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MISTAKES 

AND 

MISSTATE3IENTI 

OF 

MYERS. 



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MISTAKES 



AND 



MISSTATEMENTS 



OF 



MYERS 



OR 

Notes on Myers' Mediaeval and 
Modern History. 

REV. WILLIAM E. RANDALL. 



Sept. 17, 1903. 

Sacred Heart Church, 

Columbia, Mo. 






THIS L|L!>;/-.,;V 
OON.ur;L';;:,3. 

NOV 19 t9f^i 

/ GOf4 ' 



Entered according to act of Congress, in tlie year 1903, by- 
Rev. "Wm. E. Randall, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, 
at Washington. 



Press of Little & Becker. 



INTRODUCTION, 



To THi; Student Re.^ders :— Our national and state 
constitutions guarantee religious liberty to all citizens, 
men and women, youths and adults ; and all efforts to in- 
fringe that liberty are unconstitutional and tyrannous, 
condemned alike by the letter of our laws and the spirit 
of our people. To the religious opinions of the author oi 
Myers' History, the State of Missouri has given no in- 
dorsement, and no discrimination in scholastic grading 
can legally be made against any public school scholar for 
refusing to accept them. They are merely personal opin- 
ions, without a vestige of governmental authorization, and 
may be rejected by the pupil as freely and fully as though 
they had not appeared in a State text book. So far the 
scholar's legal right extends; but he has a moral right 
which may at times amount to a duty, to repel in a dig- 
nified and public manner, the author's slanders of the 
Catholic Church. An intelligent explanation and loyal 
vindication of Catholic doctrine by a Catholic pupil will 
generally receive, as it merits, the approbation of both 
teacher and pupils; but whether it does or not, let the 
Catholic remember that his religious liberty is a govern- 
mental guarantee, and not subordinate to that of his 
teacher. 



OUTLINES OF MEDIAEVAL AND 
MODERN HISTORY. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

Divisions oe the; Subject. 

Chief Characteristics of the Four Periods. — 

Myers — "The events that mark the period (of the 
Dark Ages) are, * * * the growth of the Papacy, 
etc." 

Comment — It will no doubt be interesting to Mr. 
Myers to learn that since the institution of the Papacy 
by Christ our Lord, it has not grown ; and that his eighth 
chapter, wherein he formally and at length treats the 
subject, should never have been written. But whereas 
the Papacy has not grown, or changed in power or pre- 
rogative, popular recognition and understanding of it, 
as well as obedience to it, have grown ; in like manner the 
means by which information is transmitted and diffused, 
have been perfected more and more, thereby increasing 
the efficacy of the Papal administration. 

Mr. Myers gives us in the preface a long list of 
books whose guidance he "mainly followed in treating 
the subjects with which they severally deal," among 
which we find Alzog's Universal Church History. It 
is to be regretted that instead of following this learned 

3 



4 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

author, he chose to propose some religious theories of his 
own. 

Myers — "The last century of the second period espe- 
cially was marked by a great intellectual revival, by 
improvements, inventions and discoveries, which greatly 
stirred men's minds, and awakened them as from a sleep. 
It was the age of intellectual emancipation. Man came 
to know the truth about himself and the universe, and 
the truth made him free." 

Comment — This is a unique, though not altogether 
a new way of applying the Holy Scriptures. It was our 
Saviour who first used these words, promising freedom 
to those who retained the truth, but he did not author- 
ize the present application of them. His promise was : 
"If you continue in my word, you shall be my disciples 
indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth 
shall make you free." Our Lord speaks not here of 
secular knowledge, but of Christian truth; and not of 
corporal liberty, but of spiritual freedom. "They 
answered him : We are the seed of Abraham, and we 
have never been slaves to any man : How sayest thou ; 
You shall be free? Jesus answered them : Amen, amen, 
I say unto you : that whosoever committeth sin, is the 
servant of sin, * * ~'^ If, therefore, the Son shall 
make you free, you shall be free indeed.". 

It is not, therefore, inventions and discoveries, ocean 
steamers and wireless telegraphy that emancipate man- 
kind, but faith and the Christian virtues. We mention 
this false interpretation because it is being used by a 
large and influential body of American educators to in- 
vest secular knowledge with the power to free mankind 
from all bondage and from every ill. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 5 

Myers — "The era of the Reformation * * * 
naturally followed the Age of Revival, for intellectual 
emancipation is sure to lead to religious reform and free- 
dom." 

Comment — St. Paul was of quite another mind, and 
regarded great secular knowledge of no spiritual ad- 
vantage. He wrote of the learned heathen philosophers, 
that "professing themselves to be (worldly) wise they 
became (spiritual) fools." 

We read that the common people gladly heard and 
followed our Lord, while the learned, for the most part, 
opposed him. We know that comparatively few eminent 
scientists and literati are remarkable for their piety. It 
was so in the days of the Apostles, and it has ever been so. 

Myers — "The third period is characterized by the 
great religious movement known as the Reformation." 

Comment — The Reformation was essentially an irre- 
ligious movement, for it was a movement away from the 
religion of Christ. A further proof of its irreligious 
character can be seen in its fruits : the vast majority of 
the descendants of the Reformers are to-day, practically, 
if not nominally, infidels. 

Myers — "The immediate issue of the Reformation 
was the freeing of Northern Europe from the absolute 
spiritual dominion of Rome." 

Comment — And Christ; just as the immediate issue 
of the revolt of the rebel angels was their freedom from 
the Kingdom of God. Not every thing that bears the 
name of freedom is a blessing. 

Myers — "The more distant result (of the Reforma- 
tion) was or will be the securing of religious freedom to 
all the world," 



6 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — The author does wisely in inserting the 
clause "or will be," for some of the sects still maintain 
that dissenters should be put to the sword. 

Myers — (The Reformation will secure) "the recog- 
nition of the right of every man to hold, avow and teach 
such views in regard to religious matters as may seem 
to him to be true." 

Comment — And as no one can say what seems to the 
speaker to be true, the Reformation would secure to him 
the right to teach publicly any doctrine, no matter how 
erroneous, how corrupt, or how dangerous. The Reform- 
ation would secure to the descendants of Brigham 
Young the right to preach Mormonism and Polygamy; 
to the Czolgoszes the right to teach anarchy and assas- 
sination ; and to Rev. Mrs. Roberts the right to advocate 
the murder of malformed babies, incurable invalids and 
maniacs. AVe readily concede to the professor the honor 
he claims for the Reformation. 

Myers — -"The chief events of the era (Reformation 
Era) are * * * * i\^q ascendency of the Catholic 
and despotic power of Spain," etc. 

Comment— There is no reason why Spain should be 
called despotic, except that she was Catholic. Mr. Myers 
stated in the preface that he would avoid a controver- 
sial tone, perhaps because he could not sustain himself 
in controversy; but you will discover that he does not 
avoid insulting insinuations. 

Relation to World History of the Fall of Rome. — 
Relation of the Mediaeval to the Modern Age. — 
Ukments of Civilisation Transmitted by Rome.. — ■ 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 7 

Gracco-Roinan Civilisation. — 

Myers — " 'The Papacy,' in the language of Hobbes, 
'was but the ghost of the deceased Roman Empire 
crowned and seated upon the grave thereof.' " 

Comment — Hobbes was about as far from sanity in 
his rehgious opinions as a man can well be, and as in- 
competent to judge the Papacy as an Eskimo; but as 
he cherished Reformation views as to a man's right to 
express himself, whether competent or not, on any and 
all subjects, he penned the above sentence, to his ever- 
lasting disgrace. 

Mr. Myers, who lacks both the originality and bold- 
ness of Hobbes, while he shares his blindness in spiritual 
things, found the passage and copied it ; not perceiving 
that either its authorship was disgraceful to Hobbes, or 
its reprint shameful to himself. These one-eyed men 
who, looking on the divine institution of the Papacy, 
judge it a human invention, strikingly remind us of the 
unbelieving Jews, who, when they heard our Saviour's 
wisdom, remarked : "This is the carpenter's son." 

Christianity. — 

Myers — "The religion which Rome gave to her con- 
querors was quite different from that taught by Christ 
and His Apostles." 

Comment — Is it possible? Well, this is news, indeed! 
Doubtless this modern oracle from his perch on College 
Hill, sees strange sights, and hears wondrous sounds. 
It is really too bad that in his effort to enlighten the age, 
and set the world ri^ght in this matter of the change and 
corruption of the Christian faith, he should be opposed 
by the unanimous testimony of the monuments of Chris- 



8 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

tianity, by the writings of all the Fathers and Doctors of 
the Church, and the universal Christian tradition. 

Myers — "Giving this religion to the Teutonic 
nations, Rome gave them something vi^hich was destined 
to produce a profound influence upon all their future. 
It shaped all the events of their history. It moulded 
all their ideas and institutions. It informed all their 
literatures, and ennobled their architecture, their paint- 
ing and their sculpture. It covered Europe with mon- 
asteries, cathedrals and schools. It abolished servitude, 
inspired the crusades and aided powerfully in the creation 
of chivalry. It added to mediaeval history the chapter 
on the Papacy. * * ^'^ * It blessed Europe with 
the Truce of God." 

Comment — And this was a religion quite different 
from that taught by Christ and his Apostles ? It is hard 
to believe that a man-made religion could be so powerful. 
We find heresy everywhere sick and dying, and incapa- 
ble of active effort or salutary influence. May it not 
be that our historic oracle made a "lapsus pennss ?" Let 
us hear him again. 

Myers — "This religion, first going forth from 
Semitic Judea, was given to the younger world by the 
missionaries of Rome." 

Comment — Why, how is this? Mr. Myers just now 
asserted that the religion which Rome gave to her con- 
querors was not the religion taught by Christ and his 
Apostles ; now he says that it was ; that it went forth from 
Semitic Judea. Alas, our sage historian has been dream- 
ing. Perhaps in the horrid darkness of the night, 
Luther's devil appeared and told him that the true re- 
ligion of Christ appeared in Germany in 15^4. But I am 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATUMI;nTS. 9 

afraid that his critics will hardly excuse him for a chron- 
ological error of many centuries, or a geographical error 
of several hundred miles. 

The Teutons. — 

Their Capacity for Civili::ation. — 

Their Love of Personal Freedom. — 

Myers — "In this sentiment of individualism, this 
idea that a man has a right to himself, lay hidden the 
germ of Protestant Christianity." 

Comment — We thank the learned author for the 
admission that the idea that a man has a right to him- 
self, is the germ of Protestanism ; and, we presume, the 
idea that a man has not a right to himself, is the germ 
of Catholicism. Now, which is true? Has a man a 
right to himself, or has he not? He certainly has not. 
Religion is not a matter between man and man, but be- 
tween man and God, and man has no rights before God, 
but duties only. God made you and you are his, and 
you have absolutely no right to yourself. But not only 
have you no rights before God immediately, but you have 
no rights before God's institutions and delegates, in so 
far as they possess divine authority. The correlative of 
parental authority is filial obedience; of civil authority, 
civil subjection; and of ecclesiastical authority, religious 
obedience. Now, in the very nature of the case, the 
Church, the highest divine authority on earth, must de- 
termine her own powers and prerogatives, as does every 
supreme court. Hence, to refuse obedience to the 
Church, and assert our right to ourselves, our independ- 
ence of her, is to rebel against God, and make ourselves 



10 mistake;s and misstate;me;nts. 

"like the heathen and the pubHcan." This conckision 
may not be altogether flattering to Protestantism, but 
that is not the fault of logic. 

Their Reverence for Womanhood. — 

Myers — '^'^A feeling of respect for woman charac- 
terized all the northern or Teutonic peoples. * * * 
This sentiment guarded the purity and sancity of the 
home." 

Comment — This effusion of sentimentality is the 
effect of feeling, not reason. There were, indeed, degrees 
of degradation in the condition of pagan women; but 
whether ancient or modern, whether Roman or Teutonic, 
they were all despised and maltreated. A woman be- 
fore marriage was the property of her father, and after 
marriage, the property of her husband, and, like other 
property, could be bought and sold. It was our dear 
Lord who raised up woman, and in the person of his 
blessed Mother, woman was exalted. The Church in 
christianizing pagan nations, gave the woman a reason 
for respecting herself, and her own self-respect com- 
pelled the respect of men. 

Myers — "Although monasticism certainly degraded 
woman, it cannot be doubted that the general influence 
of Christianity has been to elevate and dignify her." 

Comment — College Hill must be deeply veiled in the 
cloudy curtains of the sky, to have enabled this living 
curio to escape the eager eye of Barnum, and a niche in 
his museum. Everybody knows that no women in the 
world are so admired and reverenced as our religious 
nuns and sisters. 

Myers — "It is only among the Teutonic nations. 



mistake;s and misstatements. 11 

or among peoples that have felt their influence, that the 
family is the actual unit of society, and woman the real 
companion and equal of man." 

Comment — The family is the unit of society, and 
woman is the companion and moral equal of man, where- 
ever and only where the Catholic Church has extended 
her influence. We recommend to our author the care- 
ful perusal of a recent encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, in 
which he formally treats this very subject. 

Celts J Slavonians and Other Peoples. — 



PART 1. 

MEDIx\EVAL HISTORY. 

FIRST PERIOD— The Dark Ages. 

CHAPTER I. 

Migrations and Seittlements oi^ thi; Te;utonic 
Tribes. 

Kingdom of the Ostrogoths. — 

Kingdom of the Visigoths. — 

Kingdom of the Burgundians. — 

Kingdom of the Vandals. — 

Myers — "Being Arian Christians, they (the Van- 
dals) persecuted with furious zeal the orthodox party, 
the followers of Athanasius." 

Comment — Naturally, you will ask yourselves, who 
was this Athanasius whom the orthodox Christians fol- 
lowed? He was St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexan- 
dria, Egypt. The author says that the heretical Vandals 
waged war against his followers, the orthodox Chris- 
tians, the African Catholics ; and the Catholic Eastern 
Emperor, Justinian, sent Belisarius to restore the Afri- 
can province to the bosom of the Catholic. Church. 
Here are Christians, occupying the extremities of the 
earth, east, south-east and south-west, all, as can ^ be 
easily shown, in intimate communion with Rome, firmly 
united among themselves, and declared by our author to 

12 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 13 

be true orthodox Catholics. Should, therefore, any 
Protestant friend ask you how you know that the early 
Christians of the fifth and sixth centuries were Catholics, 
you can refer him to this anti-Catholic authority for 
proof. 

The Pranks under the Merovingians. — 

Myers— "The Bishops of the Christian Church 
* * * * {j^ Gaul * * * * espoused with all 
the weight of their authority, which was not small, * * * 
the cause of Clovis, hoping in return to receive his sup- 
port in their contest with the yet unconverted enemies 
of the Church." 

Comment — The author's statement is somewhat in- 
accurate; the Bishops of Gaul did not unanimously es- 
pouse the cause of Clovis, though many of them did, 
because the times were troublous and there was urgent 
need of an able monarch, and Clovis seemed to possess 
the requisite ability. 

The author says more truly that the Bishops had 
great authority over even the unconverted barbarians. 
The pagans witnessed the miracles they wrought, recog- 
nized the finger of God, and feared. 

Kingdom of the Lombards. — 

Myers — "When they (the Lombards) entered Italy 
they were Christians of the Arian sect; W afterwards 
they became converts to the orthodox faith of the Roman 
Church, and Pope Gregory I bestowed upon the Lom- 
bard king an iron crown." 

Comment — Let us recount and sum up the admis- 
sions which Mr. Myers has already made. The Church 



14 MISTAKES AND MISSTATe;mENTS. 

which Christ our Lord founded, and against which he 
promised the gates of hell should not prevail, established 
itself by the preaching of the Apostles, first in Jerusalem 
and the surrounding country; then, "going forth from 
Semitic Judea," it converted the Roman Empire, and 
was extended "by the missionaries of Rome, to the 
younger world," the heathen nations, who, one after 
another, were converted. Now, in the face of these ad- 
missions we look forward with expectant interest to our 
author's effort to justify the Protestant Rebellion against 
the Catholic Church. 

The Anglo-Saxon Conquest of Britain. — 

Teutonic Tribes Outside the Umpire. — 



CHAPTER ir. 

I. Thi: Introduction of Christianity Among the 
Different Tribes. 

Inirodnctory. — ■ » 

Myers — "Those peoples who have no temples have 
but a small attachment to their own religion." 

Comment — It may reasonably be questioned whether 
the Hebrews had a greater attachment to their religion 
after, than before the building of the temple by King 
Solomon. 

Myers — "Races whose religion is merely traditional 
and not yet embalmed in literature, will more readily 
give it up in exchange for a new than those whose faith 
is conserved by the authority of books venerable through 
age, and sacred by virtue of mysterious or forgotten 
origin." 

Comment — Is there any race "whose religion is 
merely traditional and not yet embalmed" in some kind of 
literature, written or spoken ? There is none such. 

Myers — "(Those races) will more readily give it 
(their religion) up in exchange for a new, than those 
whose faith is conserved by the authority of books ven- 
erable through age, and sacred by virtue of mysterious 
or forgotten origin." 

Comment — Faith is not, and cannot be, conserved 
by books, either of ancient or modern origin, for the 
reason that a book can, at most, conserve only letters 

15 



IB MISTAKES AND MiSSTAfljMiiN'TS. 

and words, but not their sense, which varies with the 
interpreters. The reason why faith is conserved among 
CathoHcs is that the interpreter, the Church, is one and 
infalHble. Among Protestants every man is his own 
falHble interpreter, the Revealed Truth is rent to frag- 
ments, and a speedy end is made of faith. 

Mye^rs — "Whose faith is conserved by the authority 
of books, venerable through age, and sacred by virtue 
of mysterious or forgotten origin." 

Comment — We were not aware that books of for- 
gotten origin were more sacred than those of remembered 
origin. We would be deeply indebted to Mr. Myers 
if he would kindly mention a book whose sacredness is in 
any way due to the oblivion of its origin. 

Progress of Christianity Before the Pall of Rome. — 
Conversion of the Goths. — 
Conversion of the Vandals and Other Tribes. — 
Conversion of the Pranks. — 

Myi;rs — (Clovis in desperate circumstances called 
upon God for help, whereupon the tide of battle sud- 
denly changed.) 

"This incident illustrates how the very superstitions 
of the barbarians, their belief in omens and divine inter- 
positions contributed to their conversion." 

Comment — Here is a good illustration of how "books 
sacred by virtue of mysterious or forgotten origin" con- 
serve the faith for some Protestants. The Bible abounds 
with relations of how God at diverse times has inter- 
posed in the affairs of men ; and now comes our famous 



MISTAKES AND MlSSTAfE;MEN'rS. 17 

professor, fresh from his eloquent espousal of the cause 
of the Reformers, with their Bible as the sole and suffi- 
cient rule of faith, and solemnly declares that belief in 
"divine interpositions" is superstition. Now, a good way 
to test a doctrine is to follow out its consequences. If 
belief in "divine interpositions" is superstition, "divine 
interpositions" are unreal, fallacious ; but as the gifts of 
prophecy and miracles, the inspiration of Holy Scriptures, 
and the mission of Christ, are "divine interpositions," 
they are unreal; therefore Christianity is a fraud. We 
always thought that the professor was an infidel. 

Myurs— (The Bulgarians in the time of plague, 
sought refuge and relief by a profession of the Christian 
faith.) "In like manner the Burgundians * * * * 
embraced in a body the religion of the Christians. Thus 
the reception of the new faith was often a tribal or na- 
tional affair, rather than a matter of personal convic- 
tion." 

Comment— Is there any reason why a visible and 
wonderful interposition of God, extending to, and af- 
fecting a whole nation, should be incapable of bringing 
personal conviction to every member of the nation? If 
a miracle wrought by God for the preservation of an in- 
dividual is sufficient to bring personal conviction to the 
mind of that individual, doubtless a miracle wrought 
for the preservation of a nation could personally con- 
vince the whole nation. 

Augustine's Mission to England. — 

Myers— (The pagan Angles and Saxons drove 
westward the Catholic Welsh, and occupied the lands 
left vacant by them.) "The Welsh still retained the 



18 MiS'rAKE;S and MISSTAtEM^N'l^g. 

Christian faith; but they felt no incHnation to help these 
barbarians who had robbed them of their lands, to secure 
a title to the heavenly inheritance." 

Comment — Our divine Lord taught the kind of retri- 
bution the Christian should seek : 'Xove your enemies ; 
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that 
persecute and calumniate you." The Welsh, in so far 
as they were Catholics, possessed this spirit, but their 
ability to give to their enemies the true faith may not 
have been commensurate with their inclination or desire. 
Their visits would have been suspected, and their efforts 
opposed and nullified. 

The Celtic Chiirch. — 

Myers — (Irish missionaries traversed every land.) 
"For a time it seemed as if Celtic, and not Latin Chris- 
tianity was to mould the destinies of the churches of the 
west." 

Comment — There is no difference, not even a distinc- 
tion, between Celtic and Latin Christianity : they are 
identical, the one Roman Catholic Church. Before un- 
dertaking his missionary labors in Ireland, St. Patrick 
had travelled into Italy where he received from Pope 
Celestine I his mission and the Apostolic benediction. 

The Celtic Mission to Northnmhria. — 

Rivalry Betzueen the Roman and the Celtic Church. — 

Myers — "The Celtic Church * * * * ^as in- 
clined to look upon St. John rather than upon St. Peter 
as the apostle of pre-eminence." 

Comment — There may have been some private dis- 
cussion as to which was pre-eminent in our Lord's affec- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 19 

tion; but there was no question as to St. Peter's pre- 
eminence in jurisdiction; and Mr. Myers himself states 
that the Celtic monks admitted that Christ gave to St. 
Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 

Myers — ''The Celtic Church * * * * had 
come to differ somewhat from it (the Roman Church), 
in the matter of certain ceremonies and observances." 

Comment — The Celtic Church is the Catholic Church 
among the Celts, and the Roman Church is the Catholic 
Church in Rome. The discussion concerned the day on 
which Easter should be celebrated. It was a mere matter 
of discipline, and occasioned neither rivalry, rupture, nor 
serious disturbance. 

The Council of Whitby. — 

Myers — "The decision of the prudent Oswy gave 
the British Isles to Rome." 

Comment — All the parties concerned professed the 
faith of the Roman Catholic Church ; all acknowledged her 
divine authority and no one desired, or even thought of 
refusing obedience, and going into heresy or schism. 
There was no ominous significance in the discussion 
and settlement of the question. To this day little differ- 
ences of ceremonial frequently come up for adjudication 
by the Church. 

IVie Roman Victory Fortunate for England. — 

Myers — "In this struggle between the Celtic and 
the Roman Church * * * * there is no doubt but 
that it was very fortunate for England that the contro- 
versy turned as it did." 



20 MISTAKi;S AND MISSTATIXMENTS. 

Comment — There was no struggle between the Celtic 
and the Roman Church. The Celts were professed sub- 
jects of the Roman Catholic Church and obedient to 
her commands. A delegation of Celtic monks attended 
the Council of Whitby to present their arguments why 
Rome should permit them to continue their local obser- 
vance, which differed somewhat from the general custom. 
Now, what vital interest of England depended on the 
decision of Rome, either granting or refusing the re- 
quest? 

Myers — "The re-establishment of the connection 
of the island with Roman civilization." 

Comment — Not at all. That depended on the union 
of England with the Roman Catholic Church, and not 
upon a ceremony. 

Myers — "Now all this advantage would have been 
lost had lona instead of Rome won at Whitby." 

Comment — As Rome was the judge, she could not 
lose. We would advise the author to purchase a child's 
catechism, if he would not make himself ridiculous. 

Pagan and Christian Literature of the Anglo-Saxons. — 

Bffect of Conversion upon the Martial Spirit of the 
Anglo-Saxons. — 

Myers — "The conversion of England was effected 
chiefly through the labor of monks, and consequently it 
was the monastic form of Christianity that was intro- 
duced." 

Comment — Christianity, or Catholicity, has no mon- 
astic form, no parochial form, no collegiate form and no 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 21 

secular form — it has the Christian form. A monk has 
the same form of Christianity as a layman or a diocesan 
priest. 

Myers — "The land became crowded with monas- 
teries and nunneries." 

Comment — But not overcrowded. Our Saviour 
said: "If thou will be perfect, go, sell what thou hast 
and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in 
heaven ; and come follow me." Perfection cannot be 
excessive, or too universal. 

Myers — "More than thirty kings and queens de- 
scended from the throne to end their days in cloistral re- 
treats." 

Comincnf — And thereby set their subjects a salutary 
example. Truly was England then called "The Isle of 
Saints." 

Myers — "Perhaps no other Teutonic tribes gave 
up so much of their native strength upon receiving Chris- 
tianity, as did the Angles and Saxons of Britain." 

Comment — Perhaps no other Teutonic tribes gave up 
so much of their native ferocity. 

Myers — "The practice of arms was discouraged and 
neglected." 

Comment — The excessive and cruel use of arms was 
discouraged and neglected. 

Myers — "The people became a 'nation of praying 
monks.' " 

Comment — The best warriors in the world have been 
men of prayer. If you would be convinced, read the 
two books of Machabees. 



22 mistake;s and misstatemi^nts. 

Myers — "The decay of the martial spirit in a mar- 
tial age, * * * * brought upon England centuries- 
of invasion, woe and disaster." 

Comment — The Angles and Saxons had been free- 
booters before they became Christians. Christianity did 
not rob them of their fortitude and courage, though it 
diverted their minds from war and the chase, to more 
peaceful and profitable pursuits, and very naturally 
they ceased to be as skillful swordsmen and archers as 
they had been. Surely our author is a severe critic. 
Barbarians are condemned for devoting themselves to 
the art of war, and Christians are condemned for devot- 
ing themselves to the arts of peace. 

Myers — "The infusion of the fresh blood of the 
northern peoples (the Danes or Northmen), resulted 
finally in the revival of the early vigor and martial spirit 
of the nation." 

Comment— How could that be since it did not lessen 
the number of "monasteries and nunneries," nor silence 
the voice of the "nation of praying monks?" 

The Conversion of Germany. — 

Myers — "The conversion of the tribes of Germany 
was effected by Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Frankish mis- 
sionaries — and the sword of Charlemagne." 

Comment — This is very smart, and a fair specimen 
of the author's delicate drollery; but it will not succeed. 
Enemies are physically, not spiritually subdued by the 
sword. Charlemagne repressed the violence of -the 
savage pagans and made the residence and labor of the 
Christian missionaries possible among them. For this, 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 23 

his salutary co-operation with the Church, he is sneer- 
ingly styled "a Christian Mohammed." The sneer would 
come with better grace from a heathen than a Christian 
historian. 

Myers — "Russia's * * * * evangelization was 
effected by the missionaries * * * * Qf ^|^g Greek 
or Eastern Church." 

Comment — The work of conversion was effected at 
the time that the Greek Church was still united with 
Rome. Schismatical and heretical sects are ever barren 
in their missionary labors. 

Christianity in the North. — 

Myers — (In Iceland any one publicly worshipping 
the ancient deities was to be punished.) "But private 
worship, the exposing of infants, the eating of horse- 
flesh and other practices not inconsistent with the pre- 
cepts of Christianity, were .still tolerated." 

Comment — Surely the author does not mean to say 
that private pagan worship or the eating of horse-flesh 
as a religious rite, both of which are sins against the first 
commandment, or the exposing of infants to death, a 
transgression of the fifth commandment; are not incon- 
sistent with the precepts of Christianity. Nor can he 
mean that these sins were tolerated by the Church. It is 
impossible to determine his meaning from his words, 
and we doubt if he himself attaches any definite mean- 
ing to them. Perhaps, being occult sins, and therefore 
beyond the cognizance of the civil law, the}' were not 
legislated against. 

Myers — "By the opening of the fourteenth century all 
Europe was claimed by Christianity, save a limited dis- 



24 MISTAKES AND misstat£;m]5;nts. 

trict in Southern Spain held by the Moors, and another 
in the Baltic regions possessed by the still pagan Finns 
and Lapps." 

Comment — The whole civilized world, and much of 
the uncivilized world, was now Catholic. In less than 
thirteen centuries the great work of evangelizing the 
world had been accomplished. You shall soon learn 
how this magnificent work was in part undone by the 
machinations of proud and unscrupulous men. 

The Paganising of Christianity. — 

Myers — "The subjects of the Roman Empire, in adopt- 
ing the new religion in exchange for their own, had 
mingled with it many of their heathen notions and rites. 
Then, when these semi-Christian Latins imparted this 
modified Christianity to their conquerors, it naturally 
underwent a still further corruption among the latter." 

Comment — The author labors hard to prove that there 
is no pure Christianity in the world. He does not blame 
the Catholic Church for what it could not prevent. Chris- 
tian truth, he says, in its passage down the ages, from 
nation to nation, from the civilized to the semi-civilized 
and to the barbarian ; from the Christian to the semi- 
Christian and to the heathen, was obscured, and Chris- 
tian morality was corrupted ; pagan myth mingled with 
divine truth and pagan rite with Christian ceremony. 
Now, what the author says actually happened, most cer- 
tainly would have happened, had not our divine Saviour 
with divine wisdom placed an infallible teaching author- 
ity in his Church for the very purpose of preventing 
the introduction of, or eliminating, the pagan myth and 
the pagan rite and the pagan vice, and preserving Chris- 
tian truth and morality integral and immaculate. 



mistake;s and misstatements. 25 

Myers — "The simple-minded barbarians being utterly 
unable to comprehend the metaphysical subtleties elabor- 
ated by the Greek and Latin Fathers out of the plain 
doctrines and precepts of Christ and the teachings of His 
disciples, naturally fell away into all sorts of heresies." 

Comment — The simple-minded barbarians were inno- 
cent of all acquaintance with the metaphysical subtleties 
elaborated by the Greek and Latin Fathers. The Church 
does not teach metaphysical or theological subtleties to 
simple-minded people, whether barbarians or civilized. 
She teaches them the plain truths of Christian doctrine. 

Myers — "The Church even intentionally transformed 
herself ****** 'She made herself a child to prattle 
with her child, and translated the ineffable to it in puerile 
legend.' " 

Comment — The author has just now told us that the 
Church taught "the simple-minded barbarians metaphys- 
ical subtleties elaborated by the Greek and Latin Fath- 
ers." That, he thinks, was most blamable. And now he 
condemns the Church for having avoided "metaphysical 
subtleties," and having "prattled with her child" as a 
child. Verily, he is a hard man to please. The plain 
truth is that the Catholic missionary did and does what 
every sensible teacher does, accommodated his discourse 
to the capacity of his hearers. 

Myers — " 'To dazzle the senses of the barbarians, and 
work upon their imagination,' says Guizot, 'she increased 
wonderfully the number, pomp, and variety of her re- 
ligious ceremonies.' " 

Comment — The Church does not institute ceremonies 
to dazzle or bewilder. Ceremonies are auxiliary, and al- 



26 MIS'rAKE;S and MISSTATKMliNTS. 

ways in strict harmony with the mystery that is com- 
memorated, or the feast that is celebrated. 

Myers — "Many of our rehgious ideas, festivals and 
ceremonies, as witness Easter and Christmas, may be 
traced back to an origin in the practices and beliefs 
of our heathen ancestors." 

Comment — We have a very strong suspicion that the 
professor is talking through his professorial hat. What 
did "our heathen ancestors" know about Christmas? 
Why, the Incarnation was a mystery hidden from the be- 
ginning, not even revealed to the angels; and, ignorant 
that the "Word was made flesh," our "heathen ancestors" 
could know nothing of the resurrection of the flesh. 

II. De;velopment oi" thk Monastic System. 

Origin of Monasticism. — 

Myers — "The central idea underlying the system is, 
that the body is a weight and hindrance to the spirit ; and 
that it is especially meritorious to refuse gratification to 
all those appetites and instincts that have their rise in 
our physical nature." 

Comment — We beg leave to inform the learned author 
that he misunderstands monasticism ; and that the "cen- 
tral idea" which he imagines "underlying the system," 
is the veriest fiction. Monasticism is not manichaeism, 
and he does not evince much "metaphysical subtlety" in 
confounding them. In the hope of setting him right, 
we will quote a passage from the great monastic au- 
thority, Thomas A'Kempis : "Sometimes, indeed, we 'must 
do violence, and manfully resist the sensual appetite, and 
not regard what the flesh liketh or disliketh, but rather 



MISTAKES AND MISSTA']'EM£;nTS. 27 

endeavor that, even against its will, it may be subject to 
the spirit. 

"And so long must it be chastised and kept in servi- 
tude, till it readily obey in all things, and learn to be con- 
tent with a little, and to be pleased with simplicity and 
not to murmur at any inconvenience." 

Does our author think that our sensual appetites 
should be gratified in all things, and that passion and 
not reason should govern man's conduct? 

Myers— "In the ascetic mode of life adopted * * * * 
by Elijah and John the Baptist, we find illustration of 
this" (monasticism). 

Comment— Does our author venture to criticise the 
ascetic lives of Elijah and St. John the Baptist? Inger- 
soll once toured the country, delivering his famous lec- 
ture, "Mistakes of Moses." The world may yet be treated 
to a companion piece, "Mistakes of Elijah and John the 
Baptist." 

Myers — "A misconception of certain Scriptural texts 
* * * which enjoin the mortification of the flesh, 
encouraged and fostered the doctrine (of monasticism)." 
Comment— Who is this unfledged upstart who dares 
compare his penny candle, veiled in darkness, with those 
great luminaries of the desert, and tell them that they 
did not understand the Scriptures? "A little learning 
is a dangerous thing." 

Myers— "It was not, however, until the beginning 
of the third century that the idea became a part of the 
theology of the Church." 

Comment— The idea, the "central idea" of monastic- 
ism, which the author tells us is asceticism, though he 



28 M1STAK1<;S AND misstate; ME NTS. 

misunderstands it, is as old as Christianity, and has at 
all times been taught and practiced in the Church. He 
calls the monastic spirit a "strange enthusiasm," because 
he is a stranger to it; and he likens it to a pest because 
the carnal man despises mortification of the flesh. 

Myers — "These pious enthusiasts of the desert, re- 
nouncing family and friends and the world, thought by 
the most ingenious self-torture and sacrifice of the body 
to make sure of the salvation of their souls." 

Comment — St. Paul says : "I chastise my body, and 
bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have 
preached to others, I myself should become a cast-away." 
Now, if the great apostle was afraid to omit corporal 
chastisement, lest he should become a cast-away; has 
not Mr. Myers reason to fear that its omission should ef- 
fect his own reprobation ? Perhaps the "pious enthusiasts 
of the desert" were not so foolish after all. We think 
that Mr. Myers calumniates the memory of the saints 
dead just as the hostile world persecuted them living. 
It is not true that the monks and hermits of the desert 
placed their hope of heaven in the maceration of the body, 
but they reduced their sensual passions to servitude, that 
they might be free to cultivate heroic Christian virtues in 
peace. 

Myers — "Some acquired the reputation of immaculate 
purity of soul by allowing their bodies, untouched by 
water, to accumulate the filth of half a century." 

Comment — And others there are, but neither saints nor 
solitaries, who have acquired a reputation for learning by 
stupid criticisms ; who suffer their souls to accumulate 
the spiritual filth of half a century, yet are fastidious 
about their personal appearance. 



MlStAKliS AND MlSStAtl^MENTS. 29 

Mye;rs — "The most renowned of all, however, was St. 
Simeon Stylites, who spent thirty years on a pillar sixty 
feet high and only three feet in circumference, thereby 
earning the titles of Star of the Earth and Wonder of 
the World." 

Comment — Mr. Myers thinks that St. Simeon was 
called "Star of the Earth" because he was up in the air; 
and that he was called "Wonder of the World" because 
he never fell down. 

Myers — '"On this aerial perch 'he remained exposed 
to every change of climate, ceaselessly and rapidly bend- 
ing his body in prayer almost to the level of his feet.' " 

Comment — No, not ceaselessly. He preached to the 
people at stated times, and one sermon did more good 
than all Myers' histories combined, — to say nothing of 
evil. 

Myers — " 'His biographer was commissioned to stand 
by his side, to pick up the worms that fell from his body, 
and replace them in the sores.' " 

Comment — Doubtless our author wonders whether the 
biographer was called "Wonder of the World," seeing 
that he, too, did not fall from the pillar. 

Myers — " 'To pick up the worms, and replace them 
in the sores, the Saint saying to the worm, "Eat what God 
has given you." ' " 

Comment — Some persons there are who shudder at 
a temporal worm, yet fear not the eternal one, that dieth 
not though it inhabiteth inextinguishable fire. St. Si- 
meon was not one of these, but with St. Augustine he 
prayed: "Here strike, O God; here burn;" here let the 
worm devour, "but spare me for eternity." The author 



so MISTAKES ANt) MISSTAT]<;mENTS. 

adds that "a. crowd of prelates followed the saint to the 
grave," praising and approving his heroic discipline. 
Furthermore the infallible Church has canonized him. 
Let this suffice. We add only what is most evident, that 
St. Simeon belongs to that class of exalted Christian 
heroes, who are to be admired rather than imitated. 
Monasticism in the West. — 

Myers — "The rules of this fraternity (Benedictine or- 
der) were simple and some of them very sensible, as for 
instance that which made work with the hands a pious 
duty." 

Comment — Servile work of itself is not a "pious 
duty," nor a pious occupation. Manual labor, like every 
other employment, is sanctified by the virtuous intention 
of the doer, not otherwise. All the talk about the no- 
bility and sanctity of labor is mere trash. 

Advantages of the Monastic System. — 
Bvils of the System. — 

Myers — "The religious orders too often forgot or 
neglected their vows, and the monasteries, instead of 
fostering piety and devotion, became the nurseries of in- 
dolence and profligacy." 

Comment — No, not "nurseries of indolence and pro- 
fligacy." There was one wicked apostle, but the apos- 
tolic college was not a college of wickedness. There 
have been profligate monks, but the monasteries were 
not nurseries of profligacy. 

Myers — "The tendency of the entire system was to 
cast contempt upon woman and degrade the domestic re- 
lations." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 31 

Comment — The author pours out his crude statements 
with the recklessness of a mountebank. He is a quack 
historian, and no amount of self-assurance or bravado can 
save him from contempt, or his .profession from the con- 
tamination of his company. The tendency and effect of 
the system has been the very opposite of the author's 
declaration. Every Catholic child knows that religious 
women by their vows sanctify virginity, and shed a salu- 
tary and elevating influence upon all the feminine domes- 
tic relations. 

Myers — "Again, the movement withdrew from active 
life ****** many of the choicest spirits of the 
age." 

Comment — "The monks became missionaries ;" "they 
also became teachers ;" "they became copyists ;" "they be- 
came agriculturists ;" "they became the almoners of the 
pious and wealthy." "Everywhere the monasteries 
opened their hospitable doors to the weary, the sick and 
the discouraged." "These retreats were the inns, and 
the hospitals, as well as the schools of learning and 
the nurseries of religion of mediaeval Europe." These quo- 
tations are all taken from the previous article, indicted by 
Mr. Myers himself, and they show that while monasticism 
withdrew men from the wickedness of the world, it did 
not withdraw them from an active life for the world. 

Myers — "The monastic orders contributed to the 
building up of the colossal power of the Papacy." 

Comment — The monastic orders contributed nothing 
to the building up of the Papacy, or even to the support 
of the Papacy; for the Papacy, perfectly built up, was 
conferred by Christ upon St. Peter ; and ever since has 
been supported by divine power. They simply contrib- 



32 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

uted to the popular recognition of the divine institution, 
and obedience to it. 

Myers — "The Papacy, which enchained the temporal 
princes of Europe." 

Comment — In the servitude of the Gospel. This we 
readily admit. 

Conclusion. — 

Myers — "The adoption of a common faith set in the 
midst of the seething, martial nations and races of Eu- 
rope an influence that fostered the gentler virtues, and 
a power that was always to be found on the side of order, 
and usually of mercy." 

Comment — "And usually of mercy." The author 
seems quite incapable of composing a really good sentence 
without attaching to it some word or phrase, which like 
a wart on the nose, disfigures the whole beauty. The 
Church has always been on the side of both order and 
mercy. The severest measures are often the most merci- 
ful. 



CHAPTER III. 
Fusion of The; Latin and Teutonic Peoples. 

Introductory. — 

Myers — "The Hebrew element, that is, the ideas, be- 
Hefs, and sentiments of Christianity." 

Comment — The professor, in identifying Judaism 
with Christianity, repeats the error of the pagan Romans, 
who confounded the Jews with the Christians ; and shows 
that his knowledge of "metaphysical subtleties" is on a 
par with theirs and that of the "simple-minded barbar- 
ians." 

The Barbarians and the Roman Lands. — 

The Romance Nations. — 

The Formation of the Romance Languages. — 

Consequences of the Confusion of Languages. — 

The Barbarians and Roman Learning — 

The Barbarian Codes. — 

Personal Character of the Teutonic Legislation. 

Ordeals. — 

Comment — So deep-seated and inveterate were the 
pagan superstitions, and superstitious practices, called or- 
deals, that the Church was unable to eradicate them at 
once; but was constrained to practice condescension and 



34 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

forbearance, or give up altogether the education of her 
recent barbarian converts. She was obhged, now and 
then, to tolerate, but always with reluctance and sorrow, 
some of the milder ordeals ; but she constantly exerted 
her influence and authority, even from the beginning, 
to abolish such as could not be practiced without immi- 
nent danger to the life of the contestants, and to substi- 
tute for them the sworn testimony of witnesses. It is 
not impossible that religious disputes, even concerning the 
liturgy, may have been tried in this way by private in- 
dividuals ; nor impossible, either, that corporations had 
legal defenders of their rights as we have sheriffs. 
Wherever the Church succeeded in introducing a trial 
by sworn testimony in place of the bloody ordeals, she 
generally took charge of the case, herself. But we are 
surprised to find our author condemning the clergy for 
interfering in the bloody ordeals, and by the employ- 
ment of "devices and tricks," saving the innocent, and 
perhaps the guilty, too, from unjust and horrible punish- 
ment. The author again evinces pitiable ignorance of 
"metaphysical subtleties" in confounding these super- 
stitious and barbarous practices with the divinely in- 
stituted trials of the Old Testament. 

The Revival of the Roman Law. — 



CHAPTER IV. 

The Roman Empire In The East. 

71ic Bra of Justinian. — 
The Conquest of Africa. — 

Myers — "The Vandals became furious persecutors 
of the professors of the Athanasian Creed." 

Comment — We suppose that he will hang on to that 
title until he dies. Please, sir, call us Catholics. 

The Conquest of Italy. — 

The Fate of Belisarius. — 

Rebuilding of the Church of St. Sophia. — 

The Defenses of the Umpire. — 

Introduction of Silk Manufacture. — 

The Code of Justinian. — 

Closing of the Schools of Athens. — 

Myers — "It was during- the reign of Justinian that the 
schools of rhetoric and philosophy at Athens were closed 
by imperial edict. * * * Their teachings and meth- 
ods were deemed by Justinian to be unfriendly to Chris- 
tianity." 

Comment — They certainly deserved to be closed. 

Myers — "They set reason before faith." 

Comment — The author has a very loose and unphilo- 
sophical way of writing. "They," the Athenian schools, 
or rather their professors, "set reason before faith," and 

§5 



36 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

therefore were they condemned. So says the author. 
Now, did the professors err? Not if by "before" they 
meant priority of time, for reason is antecedent to faith. 
But if by "before" they meant more necessary, they erred, 
for reason and faith are equally necessary. And if by 
"before" they meant pre-eminence, they also erred, for in 
excellence, reason is secondary. The latter error was 
theirs. 

Myers — '"These seven friends, — Diogenes, Hermias, 
etc., resolved to seek in Persia freedom of thought." 

Comment — They were poor philosophers if they 
judged that freedom of thought consisted in thinking 
error. Ignorance is the only slavery of which the mind is 
capable. They were also poor philosophers if they judged 
that locality could affect the freedom of thought. 

Myers — "But in that distant country the exile phil- 
osophers found the Zoroastrian priests quite as intolerant 
as the Christian bishops." 

Comment — The Christian bishops performed a simple 
and imperative duty in urging the emperor to close a 
pagan school in the heart of a Catholic nation. 

Myers — "They soon returned to Europe, where they 
lived in silence and died in obscurity." 

Comment — And the Christian world was blessed by 
their departure. 

Calamities of Justinian's Reign. — 

State of the Empire at the Accession of Hcraclins. — 

The Expedition of Heraclius. — 

The Battle of Nineveh. — 

The Approaching Storm. — 

The Empire becomes Greek. — 



CHAPTER V. 

IMOHAMMED AND THE SaRACENS. 

Origin and Character of the Arabs. — 

Religious Condition of Arabia before Mohammed. — 

Myers — "Arabia at this time, in happy and reproving 
contrast to almost every other country, was a land of re- 
ligious freedom." 

Comment — A religion that cares not w^hat a neighbor 
believes or professes, is devoid of charity. Charity, the 
characteristic of the true religion, is more solicitous that 
men have the truth than that they have food, raiment 
and shelter: and believing that it possesses the truth, will 
be unwilling that the contrary errors should be preached. 
Much that Mr. Myers praises as religious tolerance, is 
infidel indifference. 

Myers — "Hence, religious exiles from every land fled 
thither as to an asylum." 

Comment — Arabia would have been a fit place for the 
"seven friends." Here they would have been free to 
persist in their errors, spout infidelity and bad philosophy, 
and pervert others. 

Myers — "Mohammed, the great prophet of the Arabs, 
was born in the holy city of Mecca." 

Comment — Mohammed was not a prophet, nor was 
Mecca a holy city. Our author is a Mohammedan among 
Mohammedans, a pagan among pagans, and a chameleon. 

37 



38 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

everywhere. This may be very convenient, and very re- 
spectable, but it does not bespeak the stuff of which heroes 
are made. We doubt that had he Hved in the days of 
Nero or Diocletian, he would have been martyred for the 
faith. 

Myers — "It is probable that Mohammed was subject 
to such illusions of sights and sounds — a not uncommon 
disorder of the mind — as caused Joan of Arc to believe 
that she was commissioned by heaven to effect the de- 
liverance of her country." 

Comment — This statement is the ripe fruit of self- 
conceit, incredulity, and impiety. We think that Mr. 
Myers is the last man in the world capable of appreciat- 
ing the character and deeds of the saintly heroine of Arc; 
and he betrays the grossness of his mind by comparing 
the inspirations of the devout child with the delusions and 
forgeries of the sensual Arab. Whatever else a man 
writes, he always writes himself. 

The Hegira. — 

Myers — "The teachings of Mohammed at last aroused 
the anger of a powerful party among the Koreishites, 
***** and accordingly plots were formed against his 
life." 

Comment — This is the Arabia which, we have just 
been told, "was a land of religious freedom," and where 
exiles found "a toleration that they sought in vain else- 
where." The infidel Arabians were indifferent, not toler- 
ant, which is very evident from their speedy recourse to 
plots of death so soon as they perceived their material 
interests endangered, W? mention here this mistake 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 39 

of the author, and dwell upon it, for he pursues the phan- 
tom through the entire book. 

The Faith Extended by the Szvord. — 

Myers— "The year following the Hegira Mohammed 
began to attack and plunder caravans." 

Common/— Plundering has ever marked the introduc- 
tion and propagation of false worship. The pagans per- 
secuted that they might confiscate; and the Reformers 
always appealed to, and gratified, some worldly passion. 

Myers— "There is nothing like the religious trans- 
formation of the Arab race in all history, save that won- 
derful inspiration of the Hebrew nation on that eventful 
night spent in the face of their enemy on the shores of 
the Red Sea." 

Comment— Mr. Myers should read the Old Testament, 
and try to understand at least the plain narrative it con- 
tains. It was not the inspiration, wonderful or otherwise, 
of the Hebrew nation, that led them out of Egypt, but 
the command of God, plainly delivered to them by Moses. 

Mohammed's Embassies to Heraclius and Chosroes.— 
The Death of the Prophet. — 

Myers— "Mohammed expired in the arms of his faith- 
ful wife Ayesha, his last words being, 'Yes, I come among 
my companions on high.' " 

Comment — Presumption is characteristic of infidelity 
and heresy the world over. You will hear heretics to-day 
talking with the same insolent assurance of their future 
beatitude, 



40 MISTAKES AND MISSTATliMENTS. 

The Character of Mohammed. — 

Myers — "There seems little doubt that Mohammed 
was the subject of some bodily or mental disorder. His 
conduct during all the earlier portion of his career can 
be satisfactorily explained upon no other view." 

Comment — There is another explanation — diabolic 
possession. We admit, however, that this view will have 
few attractions for a man who stigmatizes belief in "di- 
vine interpositions," as superstition ; and who has per- 
haps even less faith, if possible, in angels and devils. 

The Koran. — 

The Doctrines of the Koran. — 

Ahuhekr, First Successor of lilohammed. — 

The Conquest of Syria. — 

The Conquest of Persia. — 

Myers — "Arabian tradition declares that the triumph 
of Islam over the religion of Zoroaster was foreshadowed 
by a miracle on the night that Mohammed was born." 

Comment— li we must have barbarian tradition let it 
be that which has some foundation in fact. 

Conquests in Central Asia. — 
The Conquest of Egypt. — 

Comment — The author dwells at some length and 
with considerable force, on the sufferings endured by the 
Egyptian Copts because of their departure from the true 
Church and their adoption of the Jacobite heresy. What- 
ever persecutions and monetary exactions they may have 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTATI^MENTS. 41 

endured from the officers of the Eastern Empire, they 
have never been persecuted by the Church, whose con- 
stant and universal practice has been the reclaiming of 
the errant by instruction and kindness. Wherever the 
Church has departed from mild methods, it has been 
in restraining the sowers of pestilential doctrines among 
the faithful, and the stubborn perpetrators of crimes 
against social order. 

As to the fanatical hostility of Bishop Theophilus to 
everything classical,— no Catholic bishop has ever at- 
tacked the classics because they were classics, but be- 
cause they are infidel. 

The Caliphs Othman and All. — 

The Bstahlishmcnt of the Dynasty of the Oniniiades.— 

Myers — "With Ali perished the truest-hearted and 
best Moslem of whom Mohammedan history has pre- 
served remembrance." 

Comment— Yet it often happens that the best of the 
worst is not superior to the worst of the best. A Moslem, 
if true to the Koran, is a moral pest; if false to it, a con- 
temptible hypocrite. 

The Conquest of Northern Africa. — 

Myers — "The long and desperate struggle was illus- 
trated, as were all the campaigns of the Arabs, by surpris- 
ing exploits of valor and splendid examples of religious 
zeal." . 

Comment — To call the fanaticism of the Arabs, re- 
ligious zeal, is to cast a slur upon a great Christian vir- 
tue. We know that devils, as well as angels, can fight; 
but we do not call their wrath religious zeal. 



42 MISTAK]tS AND ]N[ISSTAT]<;m,e;nTS. 

Attacks upon Constaniinoplc. — 

The Conquest of Spain. — 

Invasion of France: Battle of Tours.— 

Mye;rs — "The marvelous success that had everywhere 
attended the Moslem arms justified at once their faith 
in the inspiration of their prophet and the divine nature of 
their commission." 

Comment — If Mr. Myers believes this statement true, 
he has no right to condemn the pagans' ordeals as super- 
stitions. They simply justified their cause by successful 
battle. Besides, the author ridicules "divine interposi- 
tions." 

The Moslem's military triumphs did not justify their 
faith in either Mohammed's inspiration, or the divine na- 
ture of their commission. An evident miracle, alone, 
could warrant either, and that they had not. They had 
witnessed no manifest fulfillment of any prophecy of Mo- 
hammed ; nor could their military success be proved to be 
either miraculous, or a divine approval of their undertak- 
ing, or an assurance of its successful issue. 

It is unfortunate that when the author indulges in wild 
statements he should be so reckless of their moral in- 
fluence. 

Beginning of the Dynasty of the Ahhassides. — 

The Golden Age of the Caliphate. — 

The Dismemberment of the Caliphate. — 

Spread of the Religion and Language of the Arabs.— ^ 

Myers — "The African Church, which had given birth 
to a Cyprian and an Augustine, and which for centuries 



MISTAKJiS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 43 

preceding the Saracen conquest, had been most powerful 
in wealth, learning, and confessors, gradually fell away." 
Comment — The contamination of Moslem association 
was so deadening to virtue; and the social atmosphere 
was so infected with error and immorality, that it was 
well-nigh impossible for the Christian religion to exist. 

The Defects of Islam. — 

Myers — "The first fruits of Islam might well have 
led one to regard it as a faith favorable to civilization." 

Comment — No Christian could have been so deceived. 
Neither the first fruits of Islam, nor its last fruits, could 
have led him to regard it as a faith and worship favor- 
able to civilization. Error cannot be favorable to any 
good thing, or any normal development. The knowledge 
that Islam was false would save a Christian from the au- 
thor's blunder. 

Myers — "Civilization certainly owes a large debt to 
the Saracens." 

Comment — To the Saracens civilization owes some- 
thing, very likely ; but not to their pestiferous religion. 
And to what nation does not civilization owe something? 
But as to the greatness of our debt to the Saracens, Os- 
born condemns the judgment of Myers, and calls it a 
"grievous error." Islam, about the Christian civilization 
of Constantinople and Spain, he compares to dark clouds 
about the sun, reflecting but not originating light. 

Myers — "Islam shuts up woman in the harem, and 
thus deprives all classes of the elevating and refining in- 
fluences of social intercourse." 

Comment — The society of the Mohammedan women, 
incarcerated in harems, would have exerted no "elevatins: 



44 MISTAKES AND MISSTATi;M]iNTS. 

and refining influence," had they remained at large. The 
influence of pagan women on barbarous and semi-civil- 
ized society has not been ennobling. The chief blot upon 
Islamism is not that it urges or forces women to retire 
from society, but that its end in so doing is polygamy, a 
sin against the Sixth Commandment. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Charlijmagne; and the Restoration of the Empire in 
THE West. 

General Remarks.- — 

Myers — "We shall tell how the Mayors of the Palace 
of the Merovingian princes became the actual kings of 
the Franks, and how in this matter the Bishops of Rome 
established a precedent of far-reaching influence for de- 
posing and setting up kings." 

Comment — The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, the foun- 
tain of justice, and the head of spiritual authority in 
the world. When he crowns a king, the act is a certificate 
of the justice of the king's claim, and of the validity of 
the coronation ; and when he pronounces a throne forfeited 
by tyranny, the subjects may feel assured that they are 
freed from allegiance to the deposed monarch. 

How Duke Pepin Became King of the Franks. — 

Myers — "Pope Zacharias, mindful of recent favors 
which he had received at the hands of Pepin, gave his ap- 
proval to the proposed scheme by replying that it seemed 
altogether reasonable that one who was king in power 
should be king also in name." 

Comment — Pope Zachary, in giving his decision in 
favor of Pepin, did so with strict regard to the legal as- 
pects of the question ; alleging as his reason that the elec- 
toral vote of the nobles of the Germanic Kingdom should 
be respected, and the fact that Pepin had, in reality if 
not in name, possessed and exercised the royal authority 

45 



46 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

in the Frankish Kingdom for years. Little Myers says 
that the Pope was mindful of recent favors which he had 
received at the hands of Pepin, from which he concludes 
that the decision was influenced by them, just as a decis- 
ion rendered by himself might depend on the amount of 
boodle forthcoming. Thank God, Pope Zachary was not 
that kind of a man. 

Myers — "The part taken by the Pope in this import- 
ant matter * * * * -was afterwards magnified and made 
a precedent * * * * for deposing for heresy or misrule 
the temporal princes of the earth." 

Comment — -The insinuation contained in the word 
"magnified"' is very Myersish. By whom was the papal 
part magnified? Upon investigation the author will dis- 
cover his inability to answer the question. The Pope by 
virtue of his ofiice is authorized to determine when the 
right to a throne has been forfeited. By reason of his in- 
difference, inability, and neglect, Chilperic had certainly 
merited deposition. 

Pepin Gives the Pope Lands Retaken From the Lom- 
bards. — 

Myers — "Pepin often passed beyond the limits of the 
country upon various military enterprises, always cloaking 
his ambition under the pretense of a desire to advance the 
interests of the Church." 

Comment — It is not our business to inquire into the 
conscience of Pepin, nor to determine whether the os- 
tensible motive of his military enterprises was real or 
feigned ; but we are inclined to view with incredulity the 
assertion that his desire to advance the interests of the 



MISTAKES AND MISSTaTj^mENTS. 47 

Church was mere pretense. We find no authority for the 
statement. 

Myers — "Pepin probably did not intend to convey 
to the Papal See the absolute sovereignty of the trans- 
ferred lands." 

Comment — Pepin probably intended to do what he 
did; he publicly and explicitly declared that he donated 
to the Church the cities and country which he had taken 
from the Lombards. Therefore rightly did the Popes 
claim and exercise authority over the ceded territory. 

Accession of Charlemagne. — 

His Campaigns. — 

Myers — "The Pope refusing- to do as king Desiderius 
desired, the barbarian threatened to seize his little terri- 
tory, and was proceeding to carry out his threat, when the 
Pope appealed for aid to his friend Charlemagne. The 
king at once marched into Italy, wrested from Desiderius 
all his possessions, shut up the unfortunate king in a 
monastery, and placed on his own head the famous iron 
crown of the Lombards." 

Comment — A monastery makes the most humane pris- 
on imaginable ; for it affords considerable freedom, social 
enjoyment, and spiritual advantage. 

Myers — "The Saxons were fighting not only for their 
homes, but for their religion; * * ^= yet the Prankish 
king seemed to deem it a duty and merit, if not a privi- 
lege, to employ his sword in driving the pagans within 
the fold of the Church." 

Comment — Is it the blindness of pride, the stubborn- 
ness of perversity, or gross ignorance, that keeps our au- 



48 MISTAKES AND MlSSTAtEMENTS. 

thor from seeing the truth? The Catholic Church for- 
bids that infidels should be forced within the fold; but 
she commends the employment of arms, as a last resort, 
to break the power of pagan governments, civil and relig- 
ious, and set free the idolaters, "who sit in darkness and 
in the shadow of the valley of death." 

Myers — "Witikind at last yielded, threw himself on 
the mercy of Charlemagne, was kindly treated, received 
the communion of baptism, and ended his life in a monas- 
tery." 

Comment — We are curious to learn what kind of com- 
munion is "communion of baptism." The author is fully 
as ignorant of the Church as of the Bible. 

Restoration of the Empire in the West. — 

Myers — "As Charlemagne was participating in the 
festivities of Christmas Day in the Cathedral of St. Peter 
at Rome, the Pope approached the kneeling King, * * * 
and placing a crown of gold upon his head, proclaimed 
him emperor of the Romans, and the rightful and conse- 
crated successor of Ca;sar Augustus and Constantine." 

Comment — This is pure fiction. Pope Leo III. did 
not crown Charlemagne "Emperor of the West," and 
Charlemagne never assumed or bore the title ; neither did 
he crown him "Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire." All 
the Pope did was to raise the Patrician or Protector to the 
imperial dignity ; but he conferred on him no authority 
out of the Papal States. Neither did the coronation take 
place in the Cathedral of St. Peter. St. Peter's Church is 
not a cathedral. The Roman cathedral is St. John Lat- 
eran. 



MlS*rAKE;S ANi3 MISSTATEMENTS. 49 

Charlemagne's Death; His Character and Work. — 

Myers — "The murder of his Saxon prisoners was a 
most atrocious crime, which will ever leave a dark stain 
upon the name of the great P'rankish king. Neither was 
his domestic life unspotted, and this alone prevented his 
being placed on the regular Roman calendar of the 
saints." 

Comment — Not the least remarkable thing about this 
book is the presumption and audacity with which its au- 
thor speaks. Is it not a little strange that a writer who 
seems at times quite incapable of truthfully recording 
what the Church has actually done, should venture to 
predict what she would have done under other circum- 
stances ? 

Division of the Empire; Treaty of Verdun. — 

Myers — "In Lewis Debonair the vigorous piety of 
Charlemagne had degenerated into the nerveless devotion 
of the monk." 

Comment — The ancestral piety of our author's family, 
if it had any, has evidently degenerated into the sneering 
conceit of the infidel. 

Conclusion. — 



CHAPTE:RVIi. 

The: Northmen. 

I. Introductory. 
The People and the Northern Lands. — 
The Nortlnncn as Pirates and Colonizers. — 
Causes of the Migration. — 

Settlements in Scotland, Ireland, and the Western Isles. — 
Colonisation of Iceland and Greenland. — 
The Saga Literature of Iceland. — 

Myers — "About the year 1090 a Christian clergyman, 
Saemund Sigfussen by name — Iceland had by this time 
given up its pagan faith — collected the poems then float- 
ing among the people." 

Comment — "Christian clergyman" in Iceland before 
the Reformation was another name for Catholic priest. 
Saemund Sigfussen, the father of Icelandic literature, was 
a Catholic priest; a member of that Church which pre- 
served literature, law, science, civilization and Christian- 
ity, throughout the Dark Ages. 

The Norsemen in Russia. — 

The Varangians at Constantinople. — 

II. The Danes In England. 
Their Ravages in the Island. — 
King Alfred and the Danes. — 

50 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTA'rE:M]i;NTS. 61 

Alfred's Works of Peace. — 
His Character. — 

Myers — "Alfred was the noblest as he was the most 
complete embodiment of all that is great, all that is lov- 
able, in the English temper." 

Comment — King Alfred the Great was popularly re- 
garded as a saint ; and the Church that honors him, first 
sanctified him, and made him worthy of the gratitude and 
encomiums of men. 

The Danish Conquest of England. — 

Myers — "Never did the sorely harassed English have 
more urgent need to pray the petition of the Litany of 
those days : 'From the fury of the Northmen, Good Lord, 
deliver us.' " 

Comment — It is most probable that the above petition 
never appeared in the Litany of the Saints, for the old pe- 
tition answered well the purpose : "From plague, famine, 
and war, O Lord, deliver us." 

The Reign of Canute. — 

Restoration of the English Line. — 

Results of the Danish Conquest. — 

Myers — "The great benefit which resulted to England 
from the Danish conquest was the infusion of fresh blood 
into the veins of the English people, who through con- 
tact with the half- Romanized Celts, .and especially 
through the enervating influence of a monastic Church, 
had lost much of that bold, masculine vigor which char- 
acterized their hardy ancestors." 



52 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — Mr. Myers has a holy horror of monas- 
teries and what he calls the "monastic Church." He de- 
clares that they enervate the "masculine vigor," what- 
ever that is, of the hardy people, by long prayers. We 
presume that he speaks out of the fullness of his heart, 
and that the private oratory on College Hill is seldom 
visited lest his professorial boldness and "masculine 
vigor" should be enervated. But did he ever reflect that 
Canute and his bold followers who conferred "the great 
benefit of infusing fresh blood into the veins of the Eng- 
lish people" had themselves come from Denmark where 
the "monastic Church" had long been established? Has 
he forgotten that Charles M artel and the Franks who 
hammered the Saracens out of shape at Tours had tem- 
pered their weapons at the forges of the "monastic 
Church?" 

HI. Settlement oe the Northmen in Gaue. 
RoUo and Charles the Simple. — 
Transformation of the Northmen. — 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Rise of the Papal Power. 

Introduction. — 

Myers — "We propose in the present chapter to trace 
the series of circumstances whereby the Christian Church, 
a simple democratic society at the outset, was gradually 
changed into a great monarchy, with the Bishop of Rome 
as its head." 

Comment — Who or what is the author's authority for 
the statement that the "Christian Church" was "at the 
outset a simple democratic society?" Only his precious 
private judgment, and that of a few other visionaries. 
Let us consider the value of their opinion. Were a 
stranger to seek information on the original constitution 
of the United States government, what would he do? 
Would he take an opiate and invite dreams? Would he 
consult a Chinese philosopher, or a Spanish politician? 
Certainly not. He would apply to an American citizen, 
educated under our government; and if the information 
he received were not sufficiently full and precise, he would 
consult a United States Justice of the Supreme Court, 
whose office requires that he be thoroughly conversant 
with the origin, history and nature of our government. 
Now, Mr. Myers has often asserted that the primitive 
Church was the Roman Catholic Church. This Church 
is in existence everywhere to-day, and it must certainly 
know its own history. The Supreme Court of the Church 
is the Pope of Rome. Now, for Mr. Myers to deny the 
teaching of this supreme authority, declaring the original 

53 



54 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

nature of the Church's government, and hatch a conflict- 
ing theory of his own, is to make himself a laughing 
stock for all men possessed of brains. The fact is that 
the Catholic Church never was "a simple democratic so- 
ciety," nor did it ever change "into a great monarchy." 
If the unblushing insolence or puerile ignorance that fab- 
ricates and then proclaims contrary theories constitute 
"bold and masculine vigor," the sooner the author comes 
under the influence of the "monastic Church" and is "en- 
ervated," the better for the cause of history, and his repu- 
tation for sanity. 

Myers — "It must be borne in mind that the Bishops 
of Rome put forth a double claim, namely, that they were 
the supreme head of the Church, and also the rightful, 
divinely appointed suzerain of all temporal princes, the 
'earthly King of Kings.' " 

Comment— The Bishops of Rome have always claimed 
that they were the head of the Church; but no Pope has 
ever claimed to be a suzerain, or feudal lord, by divine 
appointment ; yet they have often acted, by international 
Compact, or on the selection of the disputants, as arbiters 
in royal disputes. They have, too, by virtue of their su- 
preme spiritual power, sometimes pronounced subjects 
freed from their allegiance to tyrants who had grossly 
and persistently abused their authority ; and they have 
claimed and exercised, as rulers of the Papal States, 
authority over their own secular ministers. The justice 
of these claims, and the legality of these powers, the 
Catholic is able and ready to vindicate. 

Myers — "Their temporal power was shattered by the 
revolt of the kings and princes of Europe in the -four- 
teenth century." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 55 

Comment — Obedience to their supreme spiritual au- 
thority, whereby the Popes sought to enforce the com- 
mandments of God in the temporal administration of the 
several states of Europe, and in international affairs, was 
refused by some ambitious and tyrannical monarchs in 
the fourteenth century. 

Myers — ^"And their spiritual authority was destroyed 
in the countries of Northern Europe by the revolt of 
the people in the sixteenth." 

Comment — Authority is not destroyed by a refusal of 
the subject to acknowledge it. A father retains his paren- 
tal authority whether the child yield or refuse compliance 
with it. The rebel angels did not destroy the authority 
of God by rebellion and infernal exile. What is the mat- 
ter with the professor that he has lost the power to rea- 
son? 

The Organisation of the Church. — 

Myers — "The Christian Church seems to have been 
at first a simple association rather than an organization." 

Comment — It was neither a simple association nor an 
organization. The Catholic Church is and always has 
been an organism. "I am the vine ; you are the branches," 
is the simile which Christ chose to express the vital rela- 
tion between himself and the faithful ; and even Mr. 
Myers should be able to understand that a vine with its 
branches is more than an association or organization. His 
attempt to explain the constitution of the Church is like 
the effort of the jackdaw to carry off the ram. 

Myers — "Pre-eminence was conferred by character 
rather than by office." 



56 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — So it was because of his sublime character 
that the pre-eminence of the apostleship was conferred on 
Judas ! What a pity Myers did not write a theology ! 

Myers — "But very early in its history it became an 
organized body, with regular gradations of officers, such 
as presbyters, bishops, metropolitans, and patriarchs." 

Comment — It was at so early a period of its history 
that it had had no prior history. Christ himself instituted 
the priesthood and the episcopate, the offices of presbyters 
or priests, and bishops. 

Myers — "We must bear in mind that the Roman 
patriarchs were also metropolitans and bishops, the func- 
tions of these lower offices as well as those of the higher 
being exercised by them." 

Comment — What distinguishes metropolitans and pa- 
triarchs from bishops is merely more extensive ecclesias- 
tical jurisdiction. The episcopate, however, is a dignity 
and office conferred by Holy Orders, and is superior to 
any ecclesiastical jurisdiction, howsoever extensive. 

Primacy of the Bishop of Rome. — 

Myers— "It is maintained by some that the patriarchs 
at first had equal and co-ordinate powers." 

Comment — Yes, it is maintained by some whose opin- 
ion is not worth the ink that expresses it. 

Myers — "But others claim that the Bishop of Rome 
from the very first was regarded as above the others in 
dignity and authority, and as the divinely appointed head 
of the visible Church on earth." 

Comment — He is the divinely appointed visible head 
of the Church on earth. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. ^7 

Myers — "Even as Christ is the spiritual head of the 
Church invisible." 

Comment — Who said so ? Christ is the invisible head 
of the visible Church ; and the Pope is Christ's Vicar and 
the visible head of the visible Church. We hope that this 
distinction is not too metaphysically subtle for the Sage of 
College Hill. 

Myers — "However this may be, the Pontiffs of Rome 
began very early to claim supremacy over all other bishops 
and patriarchs." 

Comment — Yes, right from the start. 

Myers — "By the beginning of the fifth century the 
Roman Bishops had very nearly made good their claim." 

Comment — Yes, four hundred years before that time 
they had made their claim entirely good. 

Myers — "But probably Pope Gregory the Great 
* =1= =1= ^ >;: ^^g ^Yie earliest Roman Bishop to whom the 
title of Pope, in the modern sense of the word, should 
be applied." 

Comment — Pray, what is the modern sense of the 
word? Oh, would that some kind nurse would put a 
bib and tucker on this infant, and lead him to the 
kindergarten ! 

Advantage to the Roman Bisliops of the Fall of the 
Empire. — 

Myers— "The ambitions and claims of the Roman 
Bishops were greatly favored from the very first by the 
spell in which the world was held by the name and pres- 
tige of imperial Rome." 



58 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — However, had the Papal claims been in- 
valid, the Papacy would have suffered from residence in 
the imperial city. The visible contrast in pomp, wealth, 
and material power, between the secular and ecclesiastical 
authority would have been to its disadvantage. 

Myers^ — "The removal by Constantine of the seat of 
government to the Bosphorus, instead of diminishing the 
power and dignity of the Roman Bishops, tended power- 
fully to promote their claims and authority." 

Comment — This is powerful reasoning; both the 
presence and the absence of the imperial dignity promoted 
the Pope's claims. Here is the problem mathematically 
presented and solved : — 2 plus 2 equals 4, and 2 minus 2 
equals 4. Myers. 

Myers — "And when the barbarians came, there came 
another occasion for the Roman Bishops to increase their 
influence." 

Comment — Unparalleled logic ! Because the Pope was 
protected by the emperor, his authority grew ; and because 
he was unprotected and exposed to danger, it still grew. 
2 plus 2 equals 4, and 2 minus 2 equals 4. Myers. 

Myers — "Rome's extremity was their opportunity. 

* * * * Innocent I., through his intercession, saved the 
churches of Rome ''■= * * and * * * * * through the in- 
tercession of the pious Leo the Great the fierce Attila was 
persuaded to turn back and spare the imperial city. 

* * * * The unarmed Pastor was able, through the awe 
and reverence inspired by his holy office, to render ser- 
vices that could not but result in bringing increased honor 
and dignity to the Roman See." 

Comment — Will Mr. Myers please explain why the 
fierce barbarians reverenced the Supreme Pontiffs, and 



MlS*tAKi;S ANt) MISSTAT^EMENTS. 59 

granted their petitions? The truth should be told even 
though uncomplimentary to the author: — the savages 
discerned in the Vicar of Christ what he fails to per- 
ceive, a representative of the Most High God. 

Myers — "But if the misfortunes of Rome tended to 
the enhancement of the reputation and influence of the 
Roman Bishops, much more did the final downfall of the 
capital tend to the same end." 

Comment — Verily the authority that stands firm 
amidst temporal prosperity and temporal adversity, 
amidst social order and its ruin, must be divine. "Thou 
art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church." 

Myers — "Upon the surrender of the Sovereignty of 
the West into the hands of the Emperor of the East, the 
Bishops of Rome became the most important persons in 
Western Europe." 

Comment — They did not become, for they always 
were, "the most important ;" and not only in the West, 
but also in the East, and North, and South. The Vicar 
of Christ is the most important person in the world. 

The Missions of Rome. — 

Myers— "In the Council of Frankfort, held in 742, 
the Bishops of Gaul and Germany resolved that the Met- 
ropolitans or Archbishops of the Gallic and German 
churches should receive the pallium from the hands of the 
Pope, in token of their subjection and allegiance to the 
Roman See." 

Comment — There was no Council of Frankfort held 
in the year 743 ; hence no decree was promulgated by it. 
Some years later a synod of the Franks made a rule that 



60 MiS^TAKKS AND MISSTATljMKNTS. 

metropolitans should ask the pallium from Rome; but 
they did not order that they should receive it, for the con- 
ferring of the pallium is a Papal prerogative. We would 
advise our professor to be very, careful in the selection 
of material in the construction of his theoretical Papal 
edifice, lest the whole structure fall before completion 
and bury in its ruins the reputation of the architect. 

Myers — "Gregory II., writing the Eastern Emperor, 
could say that to the people of Western Europe the very 
statue of the founder of the Roman Church seemed 'a 
god upon earth.' " 

Comment — Any high-school scholar could translate 
Pope Gregory's letter correctly. The pope says that St. 
Peter was honored as a terrestrial god, for he exercised 
the delegated powers of God. 

War of the Iconoclasts. — 

Myers — "Even long before the seventh century 
****** Christianity had lost very much of its early 
simplicity and purity." 

Comment — We deny the charge, and challenge the au- 
thor to produce proofs. 

Myers — "The churches both in the East and in the 
West were crowded with images or pictures of the apos- 
tles, saints, and martyrs." 

Comment — As was proper. The images of the Chris- 
tian heroes should be in the Christian temple. What 
harm does the professor see in that ? 

Myers — "To the ignorant classes at least they were 
objects of adoration and worship." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTAT'EMKnTS. B1 

Comment — It is very doubtful that any Catholic ever 
adored an image ; though heretics, devoid of an authori- 
tative teaching church, might fall into the error. The 
Catholic Church ahvays insists upon Christian education, 
which should continue not only during attendance at the 
parish school; but an hour or more, on every Sunday 
throughout life, should be devoted to progress in Chris- 
tian knowledge. Catholics appreciate the treasure of 
Christian doctrine in the ratio that they understand it. 

Myers — "They were believed to possess miraculous 
virtues and powers." 

Cow,ment — But did Balaam's ass possess no miracu- 
lous powers ? Did Aaron's rod bud and blossom accord- 
ing to the natural laws that govern sticks? And did 
the waters of the Jordan contain no miraculous virtue for 
Naaman, the Syrian? Why should not God now effect 
miracles through the medium of unreasoning creatures ? 
He can and does ; but no Catholic ever believed that the 
miracle was wrought by the creature. 

Myers — "The images of apostles and saints were 
found powerless to protect even their own shrines." 

Comment — Catholics have always believed that images 
are powerless. 

Myers — "The feeling awakened among the Eastern 
Christians by these disasters was precisely the same as 
that aroused among the pagan inhabitants of the Roman 
Empire, when, amidst the calamities of the barbarian 
invasion, the ancient deities were found powerless." 

Comment — Fudge! 

Myers — "The Christians were filled with shame and 
confusion." 



62 MtStAKES AND MISSTATEMI^NTS. 

Comment — They were filled with sorrow and horror 
at the desecration of their temples. It is our modern 
Christian school-children who study Myers' history, who 
are filled with shame and confusion at the humiliating- 
necessity which constrains them to read the book. 

Myers — ''A strong party arose, * * * Iconoclasts. 
They were the Reformers of the East." 

Comment — And worthy precursors of the Reformers, 
or Deformers, of the West. But what did they reform? 
Nothing. Ignorant and inconstant, in less than a century, 
they restored the images to the empty niches in their 
churches. 

The Donation of Constantine and the False Decretals. — 

Myers — "The ambitious pretensions of the Roman 
Pontiffs were just about this time greatly furthered by 
two of the most surprising and successful forgeries in 
all history." 

Comment — An author who has just admitted his in- 
ability to disprove the papal claims, has no right to call 
them "ambitious pretensions." Forgery is a mild name 
for the sin. We readily admit that Isidore was an adroit 
forger, and perhaps second to none in his day. The pro- 
fessor had not yet appeared on the scene. 

Myers — "The object of the former was to support 
and justify the donation of Pepin and Charlemagne." 

Comment — Which needed no justification, being justi- 
fied in itself. 

Myers — "The False Decretals are now acknowledged 
by all scholars, Catholic as well as Protestant, to have 
been forged." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 63 

Comment — They were forged by Isidore, whose iden- 
tity is not known. His purpose seems to have been to 
emphasize, not magnify, the appellate power of the Pope, 
in order that all ecclesiastics who felt themselves ag- 
grieved by a lower court, might have recourse to him. 
The Decretals, however, have never been approved by 
Rome. 

Myers — "Nevertheless they did their work as effect- 
ively as though genuine." 

Comment — What work did they do? They intro- 
duced no new doctrine, no new discipline. The Decretals 
were made up of canons, laws, and writings of the 
Fathers of the fourth and fifth centuries ; and it is pre- 
cisely because the doctrines they inculcated were true 
and not new, though the facts they alleged were fictitious, 
that the forgery remained so long undiscovered, and its 
introduction created no opposition. 

Myers — "It is difficult to believe what is, notwith- 
standing, a fact," * * *. 

Comment — It is not a fact, but what in plain English 
is called a lie. 

Myers — "That the great fabric of the mediaeval 
Papacy rested very largely upon so unsubstantial a basis 
as these forged papers." 

Comment — It rested on the rock whereon Christ prom- 
ised he would build his Church. 

Bcclesiastical Jurisdiction; Appeals to Rome. — 

Myers — "The disorders and violence of the feudal 
period that followed the break-up of the empire of 
Charlemagne, aff^orded another chance to the Papal vSee 



B4 MISTAKES AMD MiSSfAfEMENtS. 

* * * .ic * ^c =i= * * £qj. ^i^g further extension and consol- 
idation of its influence and power." 

Comment — Here the author reveals the meanness of 
his nature. He sees nothing disinterested in the Church's 
heroic labor for the civilization of the barbarian, and the 
Christianization of the heathen; nothing admirable in her 
love of justice, and her efforts to promote justice among 
the nations ; nothing noble in her solicitude for the weak 
and oppressed. By his mind every virtue is distorted ; he 
sees only selfish ambition, "schemes of usurpation," and 
the employment of dishonest methods. 

Myers — '^'Even the right to try all criminal cases was 
claimed on the ground that all crime is sin." 

Comment — "Was claimed!" By whom was it claimed? 
By the Pope? No. By a council, general, national, 
provincial, or diocesan? No. By whom was it claimed? 
By a Father or Doctor of the Church, or by any eminent 
theologian? Never. By whom, then? Well, it was 
claimed! And thus this stupendous "His-story-teller," 
this redoubtable "Knight of the Quill," hides himself 
under the coat-tails of "It was claimed," and tries to 
asperse the fair garments of the Church with foul ink. 

Myers — "The temporal princes, not perceiving 
whither this thing tended, at first favored this extension of 
ecclesiastical jurisdiction." 

Comment — The temporal princes were human beings, 
and their vision was probably restricted to things seeable. 
They did not see monsters where there were no monsters. 

Myers — "Thus, for a single illustration, in 857 
Charles the Bald of France ordered that all thieves, mur- 
derers, and other criminals, should be tried by the bishops, 



mistake;s and misstati^ments. 65 

and upon conviction handed over to the courts for pun- 
ishment." 

Comment — And this he did because, as Mr. Myers 
has said, learning was confined to the ecclesiastics ; and 
he did not want his subjects to be tried by incompetent 
judges. 

Myers — "Now the particular feature of this enorm- 
ous extension of the jurisdiction of the Church tribunals 
which at present it especially concerns us to notice, is 
the establishment of the principle that all cases might be 
appealed or cited from the courts of the bishops and arch- 
bishops of the different European countries to the Papal 
See." 

Comment — The bishops appointed by Charles the Bald 
to try thieves, murderers, and other criminals, served as 
ministers of the temporal power, and did not constitute an 
ecclesiastical tribunal from whose decision an appeal 
might be taken to Rome. 

Myers — "The Pope thus came to be regarded as the 
fountain of justice." 

Comment — But as the premises were false, the conclu- 
sion is false, and the author is obliged to seek another 
origin of the papal title, "Fountain of Justice." The 
Pope was so called because divinely appointed the cus- 
todian, interpreter, teacher, and applier, of the revealed 
law, to kings and to people. 

The Papacy and the Empire. — 

Comment — Mr. Myers is altogether incompetent to 
understand and discuss the very difficult question of the 
relation to each other of the temporal and spiritual power, 



66 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

or the relation of Church and State. We may briefly 
say that the State has the divine right to govern in 
accordance with the laws of God, of which the Church is 
the custodian and interpreter. In the State's divhie right 
to govern, she is dependent on God alone ; but in her duty 
to accept the law of God as proposed and interpreted by 
the Church, she is dependent upon, and inferior to, the 
Church. This is the ideal order, and the true relation. 
In this country where the true relation of Church and 
State is not recognized, the government acknowledges 
no obligation to receive the law from the Church, though 
it generally rules in conformity with her teaching. 



SECOND PERIOD— The Age of Revival. 

CHAPTER I. 

Feudalism and Chivalry. 

I. Feudalism. 

Feudalism Defined. — 

The Ideal System. — 

Myers — "According to papal theorists it was the 
Pope who, as God's vicar on earth, had the right to pro- 
nounce judgment against a king, depose him, and put 
another in his place." 

Comment — We congratulate our author on having for 
once stated the Catholic doctrine substantially correct. It 
is the right of the Vicar of Christ to determine when an 
abuse of royal power has operated its forfeiture. 

Myers — "The King in receiving his fief was en- 
trusted with sovereignty over all persons living upon it 
* * * * * their absolute and irresponsible ruler." 

Comment — This is not strictly true. In spiritual 
things he was responsible to the Pope. The fallacy of 
"absolute and irresponsible" sovereignty was reserved for 
heresy, which in Germany, England, Russia and else- 
where, made the monarch supreme ruler in both spirituals 
and temporals, head of the nation and head of the 
Church, custodian of the conscience and purse of the sub- 
ject, "absolute and irresponsible." 

67 



68 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "To illustrate the workings of the feudal 
system, we will suppose the king- or suzerain to be in 
need of an army. He calls upon his own immediate vas- 
sals for aid ; these in turn call upon their vassals ; and so 
the order runs down through the various stages of the 
hierarchy." 

Comment — We have recommended to the author the 
study of the child's catechism ; we now add to that recom- 
mendation the careful perusal of the English dictionary. 
He will there find that the feudal system was not a hier- 
archy. A hierarchy is a government by ecclesiastics. 

Roman and Teutonic Elements in the System. — 

Myers — "The spirit of feudalism was barbarian, but 
the form was classical. We might illustrate the idea we 
are trying to convey, by referring to the mediaeval papal 
church. It, while Hebrew in spirit, was Roman in form." 

Comment — There are some illustrations that obfuscate. 
The illustration in this case is especially unfortunate, for 
the mediaeval papal Church was not Hebrew in spirit, but 
Christian; not Roman in form, but residence. 

The Origin of Fiefs. — 

Origin of the FeudalPatronage. — 

Origin of the Feudal Sovereignty. — 

The Ceremony of Homage. — 

The Relations of Lord and Vassal. — 

Development of the Feudal System. — 

Classes of Feudal Society. — 



MISTAKlvS AND MISSTATI^IMI^NTS. 69 

Castles of the Nobles. — 

Sports of the Nobles; Hunting and Hazvking. — 

Mye;rs — ''Abbots and bishops entered upon the chase 
with as great zeal as the lay nobles. Even the prohibi- 
tions of the Church councils against the clergy's indulg- 
ing in such worldly amusements were wholly ineffectual." 

Comment — We would remind the author that tem- 
perance, even in speech, is a virtue. The prohibitions of 
the Church councils, when directed to the clergy, have 
never been "wholly ineffectual," though they have not 
always been wholly effectual. * It should also be borne in 
mind that hunting and hawking are not sinful diversions, 
even for the clergy ; and that only when tumultuous, were 
they forbidden. 

The fact that the Archbishop of York went hunting, 
or that a pack of hounds followed him as he made the 
visitation of the parishes of his archdiocese, does not_ 
prove that hunting and hawking was a universal practice 
of the clergy. 

Causes of the Decay of Feudalism. — 

Extinction of Feudalism in Different Countries. — 

Defects of the Feudal System. — 

Good Results of tJie System. — 

II. Chivalry. 

Chivalry Defined; Origin of the Institution. — 
Its Universality; the Church and Chivalry. — - 

Myers — "In the year 1095 the Council of Clermont 
* * * * decreed that every person of noble birth, on 



70 mistake:s and MissTATi'Mi'iN'rs. 

attaining twelve years of age, should take a solemn oath 
before the bishop of his diocese 'to defend to the utter- 
most the oppressed, the widow and orphans ; that women 
of noble birth, both married and single, should enjoy his 
special care; and that nothing should be wanting in him 
to rendering traveling safe, and to destroy the evils of 
tyranny.' " 

Comment — The Council of Clermont issued no such 
decree, and we regard the forgery as very dishonorable to 
our author. There may, however, have been some civil 
legislation commanding the reception of Knighthood by 
young noblemen. There were good reasons why women 
of noble birth should receive special care; they were 
most frequently abducted, and forcibly compelled to 
marry against their will. Their property allured the am- 
bitious and cruel, and its possession was sought through 
the forcible abduction of its owners. 

Training of the Knight. — 
The Ceremony of Knighting. — 
The Tournament. — 

Mye;rs — "Like the contestant in the Olympic games, 
the aspirant for the honors of the tournament must be 
unstained by crime." 

Comment — The contestants in the Olympic games 
were not, in a Christian sense, "unstained by crime." They 
were idolaters, and idolatry is a heinous sin. But if you 
reply that they were in invincible ignorance, and there- 
fore excusable, I will give you St. Augustine's answer: 
"Ignorance is either sin, or the punishment of sin." Be- 
sides idolatry, they were stained with many grossr and 



MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATljMIiNTS. 71 

shocking sins committed by participation in the abomin- 
able heathen rites. To compare these heathens with the 
Christian Knights is to stain oneself with a sin against 
common decency. 

Character of tJic Knight. — 
Decline of CJiivalry. — 
IiiHiieiice of Chivalry. — 

Comment — Dr. Arnold said in his indignation that 
the spirit of chivalry was the spirit of anti-christ. An- 
other writer, equally indignant, says that the Knights 
did not know what injustice to the lower classes meant. 
These are severe accusations. Next comes our author, 
who declares that, "It is always the young and beautiful 
lady of gentle birth whose wrongs the valiant Knight is 
risking his life to avenge;" apparently forgetting that he 
has already quoted a passage from the oath taken by the 
Knight, "to defend the oppressed, the widow and or- 
phans." Now, a widow is not always young and beauti- 
ful ; orphans are generally young, and often homely ; and 
the oppressed are as liable to be men as women. 

The Pontificals of the Middle Ages explain the cere- 
mony of Knighting, and direct that the bishop, giving the 
sword, say, "use it for your defense and that of the 
Church of God, to the confusion of the enemies of the 
cross of Christ and the Christian faith :" and again, "De- 
fend the Church, widows, orphans, and the servants of 
God, against the cruelty of pagans and heretics." 

In the face of these proofs, how mean and insipid is 
the accusation : "It was always the young and beautiful 
lady of gentle birth whose wrongs the valiant Knight is 
risking his life to avenge." 



72 MISTAKES AND MISSTATl^MKNTS. 

Myi;rs — "Just as Christianity gave to the world an 
ideal manhood which it was to strive to realize, so did 
chivalry hold up an ideal to which men were to conform 
their lives." 

Comment — If the author's chivalry is something sep- 
arate from Christianity, and not a development of Chris- 
tian principles, it is not only un-christian, but anti-chris- 
tian : "He that is not with me, is against me," saith the 
Lord,— as true of principles and movements, as of men. 
There are some self-constituted teachers, and their name 
is Legion, for they are many ; who preach that Christ, and 
Moses, and Plato, and Mohammed, and Luther, and 
others, were benefactors of the race — real Messiasses; 
each teaching a phase of truth. Li the same way do they 
regard the religious sects : each is a part of the universal 
Church ; each has a fragment of the universal truth ; each 
reflects a ray of light; all are good. .To this we reply, 
that truth is one and integral, and must be taught in its 
integrity. To teach truth isolated and in fragments, to 
lay peculiar stress upon one doctrine to the neglect of 
others, is to sin by both defect and excess, is really to lie, 
for a lie is a distorted truth. It is the special mission 
of the teaching Church of Christ to inculcate the truth, 
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, in its entirety, 
and its parts in their due relation to the whole and to one 
another. 



CHAPTER II.' 

The: Normans. 
I. The Normans at Homtj and in Italy. 
Introductory. — 
The Dukes of Normandy. — 
The Normans in Italy. — 

]V[yi;rs — "The rule of the Normans in Italy, like that 
of the Arab-Moors in Spaiti, gave the subjugated country 
its most prosperous era. The government was ably and 
equitably administered. * * * Education was en- 
couraged," etc. 

Comment — The author evidently thinks that his 
readers have very short memories, very poor intellects, 
and very great credulity. If the students will take the 
trouble to contrast the above quotation with the following 
taken from "The Defects of Islam," First Period, Chapter 
v., they will discover the author's unhappy faculty of con- 
tradicting himself : "Many of the tenets of Islam are cer- 
tainly most unfavorable to human liberty, progress, and 
improvement. It teaches fatalism, and thus paralyzes 
the will of man and discourages effort and enterprise. 
* * * It represses all spiritual aspiration and growth. 
It consecrates sensuality, and thus sinks its devotees into 
the lowest degradation. It allows polygamy and puts no 
restraint upon divorce, and thus destroys the sanctity of 
the family life. It shuts up woman in the harem.* * * 

73 



74 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

It promotes slavery, and is the foster parent of despotism. 
It inspires a bigoted hatred of race and creed. * * * Islam 
has proved a blight and curse to every race embracing its 
sterile doctrines." And yet the author says : "The Arab- 
Moors in Spain gave the subjugated country its most pros- 
perous era." Verily the best way to refute the author is 
to compare him with himself. The truth is that Islam 
has no initiative, no inventive power, no progressive spirit, 
and wherever and whenever left to itself, has intellectually 
fallen asleep, and morally corrupted. All the progress it 
ever showed was reflected from surrounding Christian 
civilization, not originated by itself, as the author almost 
admits, and the authorities whom he cites, assert. 

II. The Norman Conquest oe England. 

Events Leading np to the Conquest. — 

Myers — "Duke William succeeded in securing from 
the Pope, Alexander II., his blessing upon the enterprise, 
and the gift of a consecrated banner. The Pope assisted 
William in his undertaking, in hopes of being in turn 
aided by him to secure increased power over the English 
churches." 

Comment— Fope Alexander had no need of "increased 
power over the English churches;" the papal authority 
was cheerfully obeyed throughout England. 

As to the legality of William's claims, and the reasons 
for the Pope's indorsement of his cause, historical evi- 
dence is not explicit ; but it is certain that William insisted 
that Edward had designated him as his successor, and it 
is well known that Harold had sworn homage to him as 
heir-apparent to the English crown. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATJiME NTS. 75 

Battle of Stamford Bridge. — 

The Battle of Hastings. — 

The Completion of the Conquest. — 

The Distribution of the Land. — 

Domesday Book. — 

The Curfew and the Forest Lazvs. — 

Close of William's Reign. — 

The Norman Successors of the Conqueror. — 

Advantages to England of the Norman Conquest. — 



CHAPTER III. 

The Crusades. 

I. Introductory: Causes oe the Crusades. 

General Statement. — 

Holy Places and Pilgrimages. — 

Myers — "^Among the early Christians it was thought 
a pious and meritorious act to undertake a journey to 
some sacred place." 

Comment — As it is an act of fraternal charity to visit 
a neighbor, so it is an act of piety to visit a sacred place. 
It was so thought by the early Christians and the late 
Christians ; and not only thought, but known. 

Myers — "Prayers, it was believed, were more effica- 
cious when offered on consecrated ground." 

Comment — Not necessarily so. However, we think 
that common sense dictates the propriety of praying in a 
consecrated place. Would Mr. Myers recommend the 
race course or wood-shed in preference to a holy place? 

Myers — "Tears of repentance shed above the grave 
of saint or martyr could wash away the stain of the 
blackest sin." 

Comment — The professor is playing the infidel clown 
act. Tears of true repentance shed anywhere can wash 
away any sin ; yet there may be a choice of place wherein 
to weep. 

76 



MIS^fAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 77 

Myers — "Especially was it thought that a pilgrimage 
to the land that had been trod by the feet of the Saviour of 
the world * * * was a peculiarly pious undertaking." 

Comment — Does any Christian doubt it? 

Myers — "And one which secured for the pilgrim the 
special favor and blessing of heaven." 

Comment — Yes, if piously performed. 

Myers — "Toward the close of the tenth century the 
almost universal belief founded upon certain passages in 
the Scriptures, that the world was soon coming to an end, 
and that Christ was to re-appear in Jerusalem, caused the 
number of pilgrims to the Holy Land, greatly to increase." 

Comment — What the author calls belief, was mere pri- 
vate opinion, not faith. It was not taught by the Church, 
and was not generally held by the faithful. The opinion, 
however, is a good illustration of the inability of private 
judgment to determine the meaning of Holy Scripture. 

Myers — "There were in the bands of pilgrims men 
whose hands were stained with the blackest crimes, but 
who believed that the past could be buried in oblivion by 
the penance of the pious pilgrimage." 

Comment — The repentant criminals believed no such 
nonsense ; and doubtless cared very little whether the 
past were "buried in oblivion" or not, provided God 
would pardon their crimes. We wish to remind the pro- 
fessor that his treatment of this subject smacks of levity, 
and that levity in sacred matters is blasphemy. 

Causes of the Crusades. — 

Myers — "The Saracen Caliphs for the four centuries 
and more that they had possession of Palestine, pursued 



78 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

usually an enlightened policy towards the pilgrims, even 
encouraging pilgrimages as a source of revenue." 

Comment — We doubt not that the Saracens regarded 
almost any system of money-getting as defensible and 
commendable, especially when practiced on the "Chris- 
tain dogs ;" but till now we had never seen it advocated 
as an "enlightened policy," by a professor and author. 

The Preaehing of Peter the Hermit. — 

Myers — "The ardor of the zealot is represented as 
flaming up in the soul of the hermit, as he vows to arouse 
the warriors of the West to avenge the wrongs of their 
brethren in the East." 

Comment — A "zealot" is an overzealous and fanatical 
person, which Peter the Hermit certainly was not. Is it 
an impious tendency that directs our author in the choice 
of words? "Zealot" is used in a bad sense. Peter the 
Hermit was a man of tenderest Christian sympathies, of 
noblest Christian zeal ; and to these admirable qualities he 
added ability and eloquence that place him among the 
world's greatest heroes. 

Myers — "The people look upon the monk, clothed in 
the coarse raiment of an anchorite, as a messenger from 
heaven." 

Comment — They did not regard him as a messenger 
come down from heaven, but as a man sent from God. 

Myers — "They even venerate the ass upon which he 
rides." 

Comment — And why should they not? The horse of 
George Washington was more esteemed than the -horse 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 79 

of Benedict Arnold; and whereas everybody knows the 
name of the noble animal that carried Alexander the Great 
through his marvelous campaigns, very few perhaps know 
whether Mr. M3'ers' charger is a horse or a mule. The 
glory of the rider reflects glory upon the beast that bears 
him. 

Myers — "The real originator of the First Crusade 
was Pope Urban, and not the hermit as the legend rep- 
resents." 

Comment — Pope Urban commissioned Peter to preach 
it, and Peter fulfilled the commission. Thus, they divide 
the honor. 

The Councils of Piacenza and Clermont. — 

II. The First Crusade. 
Mustering of the Crusaders. — 

Myers— "While the religious fee^ngs of the age had 
been specially appealed to, all the various sentiments of 
ambition, chivalry, love of license, had also been skill- 
fully enlisted on the side of the undertaking." 

Comment — We ask our author by whom these base 
passions were enlisted? Would he have his readers be- 
lieve that they were enlisted by Pope Urban? He dare 
not charge it. By Peter the Hermit ? That were slander. 
By the Council of Clermont? No. By whom, then? He 
does not know. He knows, however, that in the vast and 
motley assembly who went without authorized leaders 
there were many unworthy crusaders, actuated by un- 
worthy motives. But to create the impression that the 
authors of the crusades appealed to the passions of li- 
cense, worldly ambition, and rapine ; or that the crusades 



80 iVIISTAKliS AND MISSTATE;MENtS. 

were not essentially religious undertakings; or that the 
vicious crusader was in keeping with his calling; is to 
deceive the reader and to malign the cause. 

Myers — "By further edict of Pope Urban, everyone 
assuming the badge of the crusader was by that act, pro- 
vided it had been prompted by the true spirit of self- 
sacrifice, absolved from all his sins." 

Comment — No, the temporal punishment due to sin. 
The professor is entangled in the meshes of indulgences, 
and is as helpless as a fly in a spider's web. 

Myers — "Prodigies of course were not wanting to 
further heighten the flarne of ardor and confirm the reso- 
lution of the faithful." 

Comment — As the professor on a former occasion 
made himself merry over miracles, and called faith in 
"divine interpositions," superstition, we may stigmatize 
his levity about prodigies as infidel ribaldry. 

We praise no one for credulity, or readiness to be- 
lieve on insufficient evidence, rumors of preternatural or 
supernatural acts ; but a stubborn refusal to accept suf- 
ficient testimony is not less unreasonable. Infidelity is as 
foolish as superstition ; and the man who will not admit 
the sufficiency of the proofs for the miracles wrought at 
the time of the mustering of the crusaders may be nearer 
the "Missing Link" than he imagines. 

The Vanguard. — 

Myers — '"Blinded to the commonest dictates of pru- 
dence by his fanatic zeal, Peter the Hermit assumed the 
leadership of the mixed multitudes." 

Comment — We cannot characterize the assumption of 
leadership "of the mixed multitudes" as prudent, meither 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 81 

can we commend the spirit of the Vanguard; but we 
dissent from the author's condemnation of the zealous 
and righteous leader. Pope Urban had expressly forbid- 
den children to accompany the crusaders, also women 
unaccompanied by their husbands or brothers, and all 
ecclesiastics except by permission of their bishops. When 
it is recalled that the crusaders expected, and reasonably 
expected, the hearty co-operation of the Eastern em- 
peror, much of the apparent imprudence of the under- 
taking disappears. 

Myers — "Coming upon some of the mutilated bodies 
of the followers of Walter (the leader of the first divis- 
ion), Peter ordered a general massacre of the inhabitants 
of the town at whose gates the bodies were exposed." 

Comment — The reader will naturally conclude that the 
professor is in league with the Turk, and that his warm 
sympathy is expressing itself. Circumstances, as well as 
the judgment of most authors, exonerate Peter from all 
moral turpitude. 

Myers — "The new companies (who joined them at 
Constantinople), were made up of thieves, adventurers, 
and fanatics of all sorts." 

Comment — There is truth in this statement; however, 
the folly of some, and the unworthiness of many, con- 
demn not the whole multitude, much less the leader and 
the cause. 

Myers — "Once in Asia, the crusaders gave full rein 
to their barbarous appetites and instincts, and pillaged 
and outraged indiscriminately friend and foe." 

Comment — No. It was not so much the crusaders 
who committed the depredations, as the camp followers. 



82 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

and those who had associated themselves with -the cru- 
saders that they might pillage with greater impunity. By 
his intemperate and sweeping condemnations, Mr. Myers 
evinces little of the justice of the judge, or the discrimi- 
nation of the able historian. 

March of the Main Body. — 

Tlie Capture of Nice. — 

Myers — "Just at the moment when the crusaders were 
about to make a final assault upon the city, and were an- 
ticipating the license of its sack and pillage, the imperial 
flag was raised upon its walls." 

Comment — It was the universal custom of the Middle 
Ages for the captors to help themselves to the chattels 
they found in a captured city. International laws now 
regulate these matters. There is no reason apparent why 
the author should publish the anticipations of the cru- 
saders, and little reason to think that he knew them. If 
pillage were ever lawful, it would seem lawful in this case, 
for the Turks for centuries had mercilessly robbed the 
Christians of their property, and pillage now was little 
else than restitution. 

March Across Asia Minor. — 
The Capture of Antioch. — 
The Pious Fraud. — 

Myers— "The crusaders (besieged in Antioch), were 
quite soon reduced to the very last extremity of starvation 
and despair. Ready to die they cursed God for desert- 
ing them, when they h^d given up all for His holy cause : 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 83 

'if Thou art still an all-powerful God,' they cried, 'what 
has become of Thy justice?' " 

C online lit — There is nothing in this prayer that proves 
it either impious or blasphemous, for it is not to be sup- 
posed that the crusaders doubted either God's omnipo- 
tence or justice. While we readily admit that instances 
of blasphemy may have occurred, that they were com- 
mon, much less universal, is incredible. The crusaders 
were Christians, many of them exemplary Christians ; 
and true Christians do not curse God in the direst extrem- 
ity. 

Myers — "A pious fraud was all that delivered the city 
from the power of the Mussulman host." 

Comment — When Mr. Myers has adduced proofs for 
the falsity of the legend, we will consider his authorities. 
In the year 1492 the Holy Lance was presented to Pope 
Innocent VIII., and is now preserved in the Vatican Ba- 
silica. 

The Ordeal of Bartlieleniy. — 

Myers — "Having purified the churches of Antioch 
* * * * and re-established the worship of the Cross in 
that city * * * * the crusaders * * * * demanded to be 
led at once to the capture of Jerusalem." 

Comment — The crusaders neither established, nor re- 
established, the worship of the cross in Antioch or else- 
where, if by worship is meant supreme adoration. Wor- 
ship of the cross is idolatry, a sin against both faith and 
reason. The professor's acquaintance with the crusaders 
must be marvelously slight. 

Myers — "Barthelemy, after solemnly declaring that all 
he had told was true, rushed between the flames. He 



84 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

passed through, but was so badly burned that he hved 
only a little while after the ordeal." 

Comment — The only way to read the author with sat- 
isfaction is to forget each day all that you read yesterday. 
To-day the crusaders are credulous, superstitious, and 
cruel; yesterday (see "March of the Main Body"), they 
were knights of heroic and chivalrous spirit, and worthy 
champions of the holy cause. As has been said before, 
ordeals were pagan practices which lingered for some 
generations after the conversion of the barbarians, but 
were gradually and effectually eradicated from society by 
the efforts of the Church. 

The Capture of Jerusalem. — 

Myers — "The ramparts were swept of their defenders, 
and the city was in the hands of the crusaders. A terrible 
slaughter of the infidels now took place." 

Comment — The impression left upon the mind after 
reading this book is that Mr. Myers is about one-fourth 
Christian and three-fourths Saracen. His deeper sym- 
pathies seem all to be with the Moslem. How easy it 
would be to excuse, or palliate, the infliction of severe 
and harsh chastisements by men whose co-religionists for 
centuries had endured all the insults and outrages the cruel 
infidel could invent. By what right of war could the 
Turk claim the military amenities which he had never 
shown ? 

Founding of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. — 

Myers — "Many of the Latin ecclesiastics who had ac- 
companied the army were recompensed for their suffer- 
ings and devotion, at the expense of the Greek priests." 



MISTAKKS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 85 

Comment — The change in the reHgion, nationahty and 
language, of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and vicinity, 
which the establishment of the Latin Kingdom of Jeru- 
salem had effected, required a corresponding change in 
the pastors of the churches. There was in this change 
no injustice done the Greek priests, nor reward made 
the Latin priests. The change was made in compliance 
with a necessity. 

Close of the First Crusade. — 

IIL The; Second Crusade. 
Condition of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. — 

Myers — "With their zeal inflamed by daily visions 
and miracles, the Frankish Knights performed prodigies 
of valor that seem to belong rather to the recitals of ro- 
mance than to the sober narrations of history." 

Comment — The author has declared his disbelief in 
"divine interpositions," hence his disbelief in "visions and 
miracles." The above sentence becomes then either an 
exhibition of servile hypocrisy, or of irreligious sarcasm ; 
both of which are unworthy a Christian gentleman or 
pagan man. The author is, indeed, under no obliga- 
tions to the reader to believe that there were visions 
and miracles- in Palestine in the 12th, or even in the 1st, 
century ; but a decent respect for the reader's Christian 
feelings demanded that they should not be wounded by 
wanton indulgence in skeptical irony. 

Origin of the Three Military and Religious Orders. — 
The Fall of Bdessa. — 
Preaching of St. Bernard. — 

Myers — "The contagion of the holy enthusiasm seized 



86 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

not only barons, knights, and the common people * * ''' * 
but kings and emperors were now infected with the 
sacred frenzy." 

Comment— The words "contagion," "infection," 
"frenzy," "fanaticism," "superstition," "epidemic," etc., 
etc., that everywhere sully the pages of this chapter, re- 
veal the author's animus, and prove conclusively that for 
an unbiased and appreciative account of the crusades 
to issue from his pen were as great a miracle as for the 
fountain of running water to gush from the "great tooth 
in the jaw of the ass," for the refreshment of the thirsty 
Samson. God knows our children are thirsting for the 
truth, and sick and tired of misstatements and lies. May 
He open a way for them to it. 

Myers — "The call for aid coming at just this time 
from the Christians of the East, King Louis VII., re- 
solved to lead an expedition to their relief, hoping thus 
to wipe the stain of his awful guilt from his soul." 

Comment — For about the tenth time has this stupidity 
been re-hashed and presented to the reader. We almost 
despair of our ability to make the writer understand that 
it is not leading an expedition that can "wipe away the 
stain of guilt from the soul," for leading an expedition 
is in itself an indifferent act, neither good nor bad ; but 
that the prayers, penances, and sacrifices, of the campaign 
dispose the soul to receive God's forgiveness. 

Myers — "The expenses of the new crusade were met 
by the gifts of the pious, by the testaments of the dying, 
* * * * * by the robbery of the Jews," etc. 

Comment — The Jews took advantage of the agitated 
and disordered state of society to amass wealth quickly, 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. S7 

enormously, and unjustly; therefore did the civil authori- 
ties place a heavier burden of contribution upon them. 
The discrimination seems justifiable. 

Treachery of the Greek Binperor. — 

IV. The Third Crusade. 
Capture of JenisaJeui by Saladin. — 

Myers — "Cceur de Lion raised money for the enter- 
prise by the persecution and robbery of the Jews ; by the 
imposition of an unusual tax upon all classes ; and by the 
sale of offices, dignities, and the royal lands." 

Comment — To the mind of infidels every sacrifice 
made for Christ, is folly ; every imposition of taxes for the 
prosecution of a Christian cause, is injustice; and every 
danger and hardship endured, is suicide. 

The Siege of Acre. — 
Richard and Philip. — 

Myers — "The arrogant and perfidious conduct of 
Richard led to an open quarrel between him and Philip." 

Comment — Richard is often condemned for his irasci- 
bility, and his haughty bearing; but to call his conduct 
"perfidious" is to use an epithet that most historians will 
pronounce inappropriate. 

Richard and Saladin. — 

Richard's Captivity. — 

V. The Fourth Crusade. 
The Crusaders Bargain With the Venetians. — 

Myers — "The Pope was very much angered that the 



88 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

crusaders should turn aside from the object of the expe- 
dition, and threatened them with all the thunders of the 
Church, but without eflFect." 

Comment — We deny this statement, and we challenge 
the author to verify it. The Pope was justly indignant 
that the crusaders should interrupt the attainment of their 
sworn purpose; but he did not ''threaten them with all 
the thunders of the Church." The professor had been 
fishing when he wrote the statement. 

Capture of Constantinople by the Latins. — 

VI. The Chiedren's Crusade. 

Myers — '"Stephen of Cloyes brooded over these 
things (stories of returned crusaders, mournful proces- 
sions of the Church, symbolizing the captivity of Jeru- 
salem, etc.,) until, like Joan of Arc, he was ready to see 
visions and hear voices." 

Comment — We have already observed that irreverence, 
and ridicule of sacred and mysterious things, are char- 
acteristic of the infidel heart. We recommend to the 
young reader that he make an act of faith whenever he 
reads one of the professor's impious jests. 

Myers — "While he was in this frame of mind, 
Stephen was visited by a priest, who represented that 
he was Jesus Christ." 

Comment — From what edition of "Mother Goose" is 
this fable taken ? 

Myers — "In great amaze the pilgrims to the shrine of 
St. Denis crowded about the child preacher, listened with 
the greatest credulity to the story that he told of the 
appearance to him of the angel." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 89 

Comment — Well, what was it that appeared to the 
child, a priest, an angel, or Jesus Christ? A renowned 
professor we think should know that Jesus Christ is not 
an angel or a mere man. Verily, it is not only "simple- 
minded barbarians" who are ignorant of "metaphysical 
subtleties." 

Myers — "It was a dangerous thing in those supersti-" 
tious times for one to oppose a crusade, no matter what 
might be its character." 

Comment — This sounds enough like the mouthings of 
Ingersoll to be an excerpt from his lectures. Did the pro- 
fessor ever hear of anyone having been injured in op- 
posing this crusade? Yet it was opposed and stopped. 
Our author only imagines that it was dangerous, be- 
cause some story-teller, called "the historian of the move- 
ment," says so. We are surprised to find a writer who 
is at daggers' points with superstition and ignorance, 
himself so credulous and gullible. 

Myers — "The remarkable spectacle of the children's 
crusade affords the most striking exhibition possible of 
the ignorance, superstition, and fanaticism that charac- 
tertzed the period." 

Comment — Europe was not thoroughly civilized ; the 
Church had not yet been able entirely to eliminate bar- 
barian superstition ; the masses of the people were un- 
learned, very few persons having any knowledge of let- 
ters. But they were strong in faith, and their ardent 
charity and spirit of self-sacrifice reproach our coldness. 

VII. Close of The Crusades: Their Results. 
The Minor Crusades. — 
End of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. — 



90 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

]\1yErs — "The order of 'Templar Knights' was form- 
all}' abolished by papal bull, issued by Clement V." 

Comment — The Templar Knights who had fought so 
long, so courageously, and so successfully, against the 
Moslem desecrators of the holy shrines in Palestine, had 
taken up their abode in Europe. Some serious irregulari- 
ties were discovered in some of the houses in France, in- 
troduced, it was thought, by a superior who had long 
been held in captivity by the Turks. Pope Clement 
thought it wise to abolish the order. 

JVliy tJie Crusades Ceased. — 

Myers — "Even long before the last of the crusades 
the views of the Western Christians respecting them had 
materially changed." 

Comment — Experience had proved the undertaking 
impracticable. 

Myers — "They no longer believed in them." 

Comment — They no longer believed in their practica- 
bility. 

Myers — "It would be utterly impossible to awaken 
to-day enthusiasm among the European nations for such 
undertakings." 

Comment — Because many of the European govern- 
ments are anti-Christian, and no European people are 
united in the faith. 

Myers — "By the opening of the fourteenth centur}- it 
had become very difficult to get the people to take much 
interest in the matter." 

Comment — Because they had found it impracticable. 
Prudence called a halt. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 9l 

Myers— '"The illusion of superstition was broken." 

Comment — Because it was unprofitable in hard cash 
the professor thinks it gross ignorance and superstition. 

Myers — "The people had begun to see the folly, if not 
the wickedness, of such enterprises." 

Comment — The enterprise was not wicked, but holy. 
Neither was it foolish, for there was good reason to ex- 
pect success. 

Myers — "This change in feeling was a result of the 
general advance of the peoples of Europe in knowledge 
and culture, and the growth among them of a more 
tolerant spirit." 

Comment — The spirit that would calmly tolerate the 
Moslem occupancy of Palestine, and the desecration of 
the sacred places, is the same spirit that sold Christ for 
thirty pieces of silver. 

Myers — "The ambitious and aspiring began to think 
it wiser to make fortunes through trade, manufacture, 
and maritime enterprise, than to squander them in costly 
expeditions for the recovery of holy places." 

Comment — That is just what they thought; they 
weighed a full purse against an empty sepulchre, and 
they decided that the purse was more valuable. In the 
same spirit did Judas estimate our Saviour's worth, and 
appreciate him at thirty silver pieces. The wise men 
whom the professor admires, the learned, cultured, am- 
bitious, and aspiring, opposed the squandering of for- 
tunes on costly expeditions, just as Judas rebuked Mary 
Magdalene for squandering precious ointment : "to what 
purpose is this waste?" 

It is wiser to make money than to squander it: so 
say the worldly wise. But it is wiser to spend it for the 



92 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

promotion of causes religious and charitable, than to make 
it, save it, or squander it. This is the reply of a disciple 
of Christ. 

Bz'ils of the Crusades. — ■ 

Myers — "The crusades were attended by all the dis- 
order, license, and crime with which war is always ac- 
companied." 

Comment — They may have been attended by all the 
species of "disorder, license, and crime," but not by the 
same amount. The nobility of the cause diminished the 
intensity and amount of incidental evil. The professor 
sometimes means well, but his philosophical ineptness 
thwarts his purpose, and casts him into absurdities. 

Myers — "The crusades aroused a persecuting spirit, 
and 'taught the Church to assault, with military force, 
whole sects and districts, to slaughter by wholesale, in- 
stead of in detail.' " 

Comment — The above is not original with the author ; 
he borrowed it: but whether from a lunatic or an im- 
becile, he does not tell us. 

The preposterousness of the assertion that the Church, 
which was commissioned by our Lord to "teach all na- 
tions to observe all things," was instructed by the crusades 
which she herself originated and directed, is phenomenal. 

Myers — "This is illustrated by the Albigensian wars, 
in which crusade the Church set herself deliberately to the 
work of exterminating with fire and sword an entire peo- 
ple — men, women, and children." 

Comment — Any fool could make the charge, but ten 
thousand Myers cannot prove one word of it. We will 
discuss the matter when it comes up in its proper place. 



kiSTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. ■ '93 

Myers — "The crusades also contributed to increase — 
much to the disadvantage of the people of Europe — the 
power and wealth of the Church." 

Comment — If Mr. Myers were a competent judge we 
would be willing to hear his opinion as to what was, and 
what is, disadvantageous to the people of Europe; but 
unfortunately he is not. 

In the. solution of any grave question, he counts for 
very little; and in the decision of a religious question, his 
opinion is hardly to be considered. 

Christ our Lord established his Church for the civili- 
zation, Christianization, and salvation of men ; and what- 
ever promotes the interests of the Church, certainly pro- 
motes the interests of mankind. 

Myers — "By gifts of piety, etc., were augmented the 
power of the Papacy and the riches of the Church, which 
led, as we shall see, to much evil, — to tyranny, to strife, 
to corruption." 

Comment — Were not the nobles who bequeathed their 
estates to the Church or to monasteries and hospitals, at 
least as qualified as is Mr. Myers to judge the character 
of those into whose hands the donations were to pass? 
Is it not presumption, to call it nothing worse, for .him, 
a man without faith or intimate knowledge of the times, 
to pretend to superioi- wisdom? It is not to be thought 
that in any respect is he better fitted than were they to 
pass a prudent judgment. 

Good Results of the Crusades. — 

Myers — "The crusades liberalized the minds of the 
crusaders." 



94 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Coininent — We told the reader not to be surprised to 
find the author changing his mind on ahiiost every page. 
Under the "Evils of the Crusades" we were told that they 
aroused a persecuting spirit. Here we are informed that 
they had just the opposite effect, that they liberalized 
bigoted minds and moderated the intensity of religious 
hate. These statements are not compatible. 

Myers — "The voyages, observations, and experiences 
of the crusaders had just that effect in correcting their 
false notions, and in liberalizing their narrow and intoler- 
ant ideas, that wide travel and close contact with different 
peoples and races never fail of producing upon even the 
dullest and most bigoted person." 

Comment — If liberal views are the intellectual fruit of 
travel, and bigotry the oppressive burden of the seden- 
tary; we doubt if the professor has ever seen the other 
side of College Hill. A narrower book in the depart- 
ment of history it has rarely been our misfortune to read. 
We have known poor tenants of crowded flats in cramped 
city lanes, and isolated farmers in sparsely settled dis- 
tricts, who manifested more liberality, more magnanimity, 
than we find in this book. There is something more es- 
sential to the production of broad-mindedness than travel. 

Myers — "The knowledge of geography, and of the 
science and learning of the East, gained by the crusaders 
through their expeditions, greatly stimulated the Eatin 
intellect, and helped to awaken in Western Europe that 
mental activity which resulted finally in the great intel- 
lectual outburst known as the Revival of Learning." 

Coinmcnt — The Revival of Learning was not an un- 
mixed good ; but in part commendable and in part con- 
demnable. The revival of the study of ancient literature 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 95 

and art was, perhaps, beneficial ; but the revival of the 
study of pagan philosophy was baneful. 

The author follows in the path beaten by historians of 
his class, and copies their statements ; but he is opposed 
by a large number of profound historians who think that 
the eleventh and twelfth centuries were marked by greater 
mental activity and prdfounder scholarship than the fif- 
teenth and sixteenth, though learning in the later cen- 
turies was more widely diffused. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Supremacy of the; Papacy : Decline; oi^ Its Te;mporai. 

Powe;r. 

Introductory. — 

Mye;rs — "In the present chapter, we propose to tell 
how near the Papacy came to realizing its magnificent 
dream, and of the long struggle between it and the secular 
rulers of Europe, resulting in the final triumph and eman- 
cipation of the temporal power." 

Comment — The Church's doctrine that the passions 
should be subjected to reason, and reason to the divine 
law, which is what is meant by the subordination of the 
temporal to the spiritual, the State to the Church, and 
man to God, is called by our author a "magnificent 
dream," while its rejection is styled "the emancipation of 
the temporal power." In accordance with this judgment, 
political and religious rebellion generally receives his 
praise. The French Revolution receives hearty, if not 
unqualified, laudation. The atheistic philosophers of the 
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, responsible in great 
measure for the wide-spread political calamities that suc- 
ceeded them, are treated with consideration and seeming 
approval : why, we know not, except that they were sons 
of Belial, and refused to bear the yoke of the Lord. With 
equal reason should the Prodigal Son be praised for his 
setting out, and condemned for his return. The unfaith- 
ful husband merits, too, a meed of commendation, to- 
.gether with the moral reprobate, and the religious heretic. 
They all assert the supremacy of the temporal over tlic 

96 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 97 

Spiritual; all emancipate the temporal and natural; all 
break the law that binds them; all refuse to bear the 
yoke. They can embrace Mr. Myers with perfect consist- 
ency and loving- unanimity; — his views are theirs. 

Let us see how our divine Lord regarded the relation 
of the Church to the State. Addressing his Apostles^ he 
said: "All power is given to me in heaven and ppon 
earth : as the Father hath sent Me, I also send you," vested 
with the same power. "He that heareth you, heareth Me ; 
and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me ; and he that des- 
piseth Me, despiseth Him that sent Me." No exception 
is made in favor of kings or governments ; all must re- 
ceive the law of God from the mouth of the Church. Now, 
no man who believes the words of Christ, and has any 
true conception of a church, can hold the doctrine of Mr. 
Myers. 

Pope Gregory VII. (Hilderhrand) and His Systeui.— 

Myers — "In carrying out his scheme of exalting the 
Papal See, * * * Gregory * * * * set about the en- 
forcement of celibacy among the secular clergy, and the 
suppression of simony." 

Comment — The author would have you infer that 
Pope Gregory urged these reforms for the attainment of 
selfish ambition. And this foul insinuation is made by 
a man who registers in the preface of the book his purpose 
to give "prominence to the virtues, rather than the vices, 
of men." Why, this cunning hunter ferrets out evil like 
a Pinkerton detective, and where he cannot find it, invents 
it. We ask, is it honorable to cast this foul aspersion on 
the fair name of St. Hilderbrand? Is it honest to in- 
sinuate, much less assert, an evil motive, without a ves- 



98 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

tige of proof, simply because he vigorously discharged an 
imperative duty? If Mr. Myers cannot understand the 
Pope's conduct, let him consult with those who can. 

Myers — "To remedy the evil of simony Gregory is- 
sued a decree that no priest, abbot, bishop, archbishop, or 
other officer of the Church should do homage to a tem- 
poral lord, but that he should receive the ring and staff, 
the symbols of investiture, from the hands of the Pope 
alone." 

Comment — Gregory strove to free the Church from 
the interference and domination of the temporal lords. 
Nothing could be more praiseworthy. 

B-vcommunications and Interdicts. — 

Myers — "The principal instruments relied upon by 
Gregory for the carrying out of his scheme were the spirit- 
ual thunders of the Church — Excommunication and In- 
terdict." 

Comment — This is common bar-room talk. When the 
author speaks of the Church he seems to forget common 
politeness. 

Myers — "The person excommunicated was cut off 
from all relations with his fellowmen." 

Comment — The statement is false. 

Myers — "If a king, his subjects were released from 
their oath of allegiance." 

Comment — The coronation oath of the mediaeval kings 
bound them to fidelity to the Church. To make war upon 
the Church, or to refuse compliance with her decrees, was 
a serious violation of the roval oath, and worked the for- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 99 

feitiire of the crown. The papal excommunication of a 
king contained a judicial decision that the royal right 
to the throne had been forfeited by crime. 

Myers — "Anyone providing the accused with food or 
shelter incurred the wrath of the Church." 

Comment — An excommunication is not an accusation, 
but a condemnation. After a criminal is condemned, it 
is not customary to speak of him as the accused. We 
think that Mr. Myers should have known the meaning of 
these words. 

But the author's assertion is false. It was not for- 
bidden to provide the excommunicated with food and 
shelter, except he had incurred excommunication by 
name, and not even then if he were in great need, 

Myers — "The interdict was directed against a city, 
province, or kingdom. Throughout the region under 
this ban, the churches were closed ; no bell could be rung, 
no marriage celebrated, no burial ceremony performed. 
The rites ol baptism and extreme unction alone could be 
admistered." 

Comment — The imbecile who told Mr. Myers all these 
dreams, should be interdicted from teaching. In the first 
place. Baptism and Extreme Unction are not rites, but 
sacraments. But the author is not more ignorant of 
ecclesiastical terms than of ecclesiastical laws. The follow- 
ing are the sacraments whose administration is forbid- 
den in an interdicted place: Holy Eucharist, except as 
Viaticum; Extreme Unction, except to the dying who 
cannot confess ; and Holy Orders. The following may 
be administered : Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, and 
Matrimony without the nuptial blessing. 

L.cfC. 



100 MISTAKES AND MISSTATI!;me;nTS. 

The reader can now perceive what an admirable au- 
thority on religious subjects our famous professor is. 

Myers — "It is difficult for those who have come to 
regard the thunders of the Church as harmless, to realize 
the effect of these anathemas upon a superstitious age." 

Comment — Yes, • it is difficult, if not impossible, for 
those who have come to regard the spiritual as unreal, and 
the supernatural as mythological — whom the prince of 
this world has blinded — to realize the spirit and senti- 
ments of the Ages of Faith. Therefore, our advice to 
them would be to restrain their itching for writing the 
history of mediaeval times, being well assured of their 
utter inability to do the subject justice. 

Gregory VII. and Henry IV. of Germany. — 

Myers — "The decree of Gregory respecting the rela- 
tion of the clergy to the feudal lords created a perfect 
storm of opposition, not only among the temporal princes 
and sovereigns of Europe, but also among the clergy 
themselves." 

Comment — Every real reform meets with opposition. 
Many of those whose temporal interests are antagonized 
by it, are sure to oppose it ; but the more intense the op- 
position the more urgent is the need of reform. Wicked- 
ness intrenched in high places, is not dislodged without 
a hard and persistent struggle. 

Myers — "The Emperor Henry IV. refused to recog- 
nize Gregory's decree and even called a council of the 
clergy of Germany and deposed him." 

Comment — Henry had no right to call a council, which 
was without authority f::om the beginning; and the act 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATL'.MIiNTS. lUl 

of deposition was as invalid as it was ineffectual. On the 
contrary, the Pope's decree of excommunication was both 
valid and effectual. This may be all Greek to Mr. Myers, 
but as he grows older he may understand it better. 

Mye;rs — "Gregory in turn gathered a council at Rome, 
and deposed and excommunicated the Emperor. This 
encouraged a revolt on the part of some of Henry's dis- 
contented subjects." 

Comment — There were many and terrible grievances 
that made them discontented and rebellious. 

Myers — "Henry was shunned as a man accursed by 
heaven." 

Comment — Those loyal German Catholics understood 
what a papal excommunication meant. 

Myers — "Henry sought the haughty Pontiff at Ca- 
nossa." 

Comment— '^o lover of truth will relish this menda- 
cious attack upon the character of a sainted pope who was 
as humble as he was great. 

Myers — "It was winter, and for three successive days 
the king, clothed in sackcloth, stood with bare feet in 
the snow of the court-yard of the palace, waiting for per- 
mission to kneel at the feet of the Pontiff and receive for- 
giveness." 

Comment — Liberty rejoiced and again took hope when 
the proud tyrant was brought down. But, alas, Gregory 
was too lenient, and too quick to forgive the royal hypo- 
crite. 

The Popes and the Hohenstaufen Emperors. — 

Myers — "The fierce contention between the Papal See 
and the Emperofs * * * * was simply the continuation 



102 MISTAKl!;S AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

and culmination of the struggle begun long before to 
decide which should be supreme, the 'world-priest' or 
the 'world king.' " 

Comment — It was a contention to determine whether 
the temporal ruler was to govern in accordance with the 
laws of God, proposed by the Church, or in defiance of 
those laws. 

The Papacy at Its Height. — 

Myers — "Under Innocent III. was very nearly made 
good the Papal claim that all earthly sovereigns were 
merely vassals of the Roman Pontifif." 

Comment — No Pope ever advanced the claim. 

Myers — '"Almost all the kings and princes of Eu- 
rope swore fealty to Innocent III. as their over lord." 

Continent — Their subjects often desired them to as 
a guarantee against royal oppression. All the Catholic 
kings and princes swore to govern according to justice, 
and to defend the Holy See; and every Catholic prince 
of a Catholic state is bound, even without an oath, to do 
the same. 

Pope Innocent HI. and Philip Augustus of France. — 

Myers — "Philip Augustus having put away his wife, 
Innocent commanded him to take her back, and forced 
him to submission by means of an interdict." 

Comment — The Pope is always for justice, and on the 
side of the oppressed. Here he defends the innocent wife 
who, rejected by her husband, has no protector but the 
Church. Contrast this bold espou.sal of a friendless cause 
with the fawning compliance of Martin Luther, when 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 103 

asked by Philip, landgrave of Hesse, for permission to 
take a second wife: "If Your Highness is determined to 
marry a second wife, we judge that it ought to be done 
privately." 

Pope Innocent III. and King John of Bngland. — 

Myers — 'Innocent's quarrel with King John of Eng- 
land will afford another illustration of the arrogance with 
which the Pontiff dealt with the sovereigns of Europe." 

Comment — We are strongly of the opinion that it will 
afford another exhibition of the author's galvanized ob- 
tuseness. 

Myers — "The See of Canterbury falling vacant, John 
ordered the monks — " 

Comment — And his kingly order meant compulsion — 

Myers — "John ordered the monks who had the right 
of election to give the place to a favorite of his. * * * * * 
They obeyed." 

Comment — Having given you specimens of his inter- 
pretation of Scripture, his understanding of ecclesiastical 
terms, etc., Mr. Myers now proceeds to display his knowl- 
edge of canon law. He fails completely. The monks had 
no right to elect an archbishop of Canterbury against the 
command of the Pope. The election was invalid. 

Myers — "But the Pope immediately declared the elec- 
tion void, and caused the vacancy to be filled with one 
of his own friends, Stephen Langton." 

Comment — Priests and bishops, and formerly the peo- 
ple, in conformity with the law, may nominate the candi- 
date for a vacant bishopric, but it is the office of the 
Pope to appoint, and invest with power the appointee; 



104 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

and no man, be he king, bishop, or priest, has any right 
to interfere. 

AIyErs — "John '^' "^^ * * proceeded to confiscate the 
estates of the See of Canterbury." 

Comment — In other words, he turned desperado and 
highway robber. 

Myers — "Innocent III. now laid all England under an 
interdict, excommunicated John," etc. 

Coiiiinent — Good for the Pope! This kind of medi- 
cine was required to bring the royal reprobate and tyrant 
to his senses. Now there was no arrogance in the Pope's 
conduct, but there must have been infinite conceit in the 
author's mind when he proposed to prove it arrogant. 

The Mendicants, or Begging Friars. — 

Myers — "In the new orders, Dominicans and Francis- 
cans, the monk was to give himself wholly to the work 
of securing the salvation of others." 

Comment — Nobody will ever accuse Mr. Myers of 
any intimate knowledge of these orders. The law of 
charity on which both of them are founded, requires that 
the monk labor primarily for his own sanctification and 
salvation. 

Myers — "Hitherto, while the individual members of 
a monastic order must afifect extreme poverty, the house 
or fraternity might possess any amount of communal 
wealth." 

Comment — To "affect extreme poverty" means to 
make a show of being extremely poor ; that- is, the monks 
must pretend to be poor, and if they are rich, they must 



MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATE AIKNTS. 105 

play the hypocrite. This is an uncommon tribute to our 
monks and nuns, and to the constitutions by which their 
lives are directed. Now, a vow of poverty is personal 
and renders the person making it incompetent to own 
property. So to take a vow of poverty, and live in a 
large, well-furnished convent, is not to afifect poverty, but 
to be poor. A monk in a palace is as poor as a monk in 
a hut. 

Myers — "From their ranks at last were to rise men 
who should shake the power of the Papal throne itself." 

Comment — Luther shook it, but could not overthrow 
it ; yet he shook so hard that he shook himself to death. 

Myers — "A writer who lived not more than half a 
century after the death of St. Francis declares that: 'The 
sight of a begging friar in the distance was more dreaded 
than that of a robber.' " 

Comment — It is not difficult to find slanderers if we 
only seek diligently for them. The Dominicans and 
Franciscans live now under the same rule as they did in 
the Middle Ages. Whatever, during the centuries of their 
existence has been unedifying in their monasteries, has 
alwavs been the exception. The monks have ever been 
remarkable for humility, devotion, and zeal ; and they still 
constitute the choice spirits of the Church, as all will 
agree who have enjoyed the privilege of their intimate ac- 
quaintance. But experience teaches that there is nothing 
so holy but some one will be found to defame it. 

Revolt of the Temporal Princes. — 

Myers — "The new Papal Rome, like the old Pagan 
Rome, had reached out too far and grasped too much." 



106 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMEINTS. 

Comment — The bat said to the moon : "You shine too 
bright." What a pompous personage is this jack-a-napes ! 
What a pity he was not present with his profound wisdom 
to inform the Popes just how far they should reach out, 
and how much they should, and should not grasp ! Verily, 
the number of fools is infinite. 

MyUrs — "The pontifical throne being then occupied 
by weaker prelates * * * * the temporal princes * * * * 
were encouraged to attempt to regain their lost inde- 
pendence." 

Comment — The word "independence" does not express 
the idea, but the intelligent reader will understand that 
what the princes attempted to regain was freedom from 
all restraint, and license to do as they pleased. 

Myers — '"France, Germany, and England successively 
revolted, and denied the right of the Pope to interfere in 
their political and governmental affairs." 

Comment — The incentive to revolt against authority is 
the fruit, as it is the proof, of the corruption of our na- 
ture. It is in all individuals, and is manifest everywhere. 
Even the child asks itself: "What has the Church to do 
with my thoughts ?" The parent says : "The government 
of my family is my own business." The Catholic free- 
mason declares : "Our society does no harm, and no au- 
thority has any right to intermeddle in our affairs." The 
king says : "It is my right to rule as I please." This is 
precisely the "independence" which the governmental 
powers of Europe sought. 

Myers — "The leaders of this revolt against the secular 
dominion of the Papacy did not think of challengirig the 
claims of the Popes to recognition as the supreme head of 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 107 

the Church, and the rightful arbiter in all spiritual mat- 
ters." 

Comment — But the leaders were very much like Mr. 
Myers, and could not, or would not, understand what the 
Church's divine commission is. They could not, or would 
not, understand that the fundamental principles of politics 
are theological, and that the Church in interpreting and 
enforcing them, necessarily affected political government : 
and because they could not, or would not, understand what 
it was criminal for them to be ignorant of, their profes- 
sion of faith was at variance with their irreligious prac- 
tices, and their reigns were spiritual calamities. 

Myers — "The Albigenses in Southern France, the 
Lollards in England, and the Hussites in Bohemia were 
extirpated or punished by the sword of the civil power, 
wielded in obedience to the commands of the Roman See." 

Comment — If Mr. Myers knows anything about these 
immoral heretics, he knows that they needed correction. 
The Church did not desire their extirpation, but their 
emendation. If their punishyiient was excessive, the tem- 
poral authorities were responsible. As to the Hussites, 
the Popes had little to do with them, 

Boniface VIII. and Philip the Pair. — 

Myers — "Pope Boniface VIII. was an incredibly ar- 
rogant, audacious, and injudicious person." 

Cowm^n^— Cardinal Wiseman, a better critic, wrote : 
"The character of Boniface is certainly stern and inflexi- 
ble; but there is no sign of his having been cruel or re- 
vengeful. No writer, however hostile to him, ever insin- 
uated aught against his moral conduct or character." 



108 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "Philip's reply to Boniface was : 'Philip the 
Fair to Boniface, little or no greetings. * * '■'' * Know 
thou, O Supreme Stupidity, that in governmental mat- 
ters we are subject neither to you nor to any other per- 
son.' " 

Comment— Mr. Myers dislikes the style of this let- 
ter, but seems to admire its spirit : we will consider only 
the truth of the statement of Philip's absolute independ- 
ence in governmental matters, supposing his Catholicity. 
Now, if Philip and Mr. Myers were asked how a king- 
could be subject to the Pope in spiritual things and in- 
dependent of him in "governmental matters," both would 
be obliged to hold their mouths tight shut. The relation 
of the spiritual order to the temporal order does not per- 
mit such a condition to exist. The principles that are 
at the foundation of all just government are theological 
principles, and must be received by the king and people, 
rulers and ruled, from the divinely established spiritual 
authority, the Catholic Church. If Mr. Myers could only 
understand this, he would write less, perhaps, but better. 
Boniface wrote the king that the Pope's dominion over 
him was not as temporal prince, but as spiritual sovereign ; 
yet who will deny that spiritual decrees should govern 
our secular as well as our spiritual conduct? 

Removal of the Papal seat to Avignon. — 

Myers — "While it was established here, all the Popes 
were French, and of course all their policies were shaped 
and controlled by the FVench kings." 

Comment — Why "of course?" We admit neither the 
reason nor the fact. Of course all their policies were not 
shaped and controlled by the French kings. King 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 109 

Charles V. did not shape and control the policy of Pope 
Gregory XI. when the latter restored the Papal court to 
Rome. Mr. Myers should learn to modify his extrava- 
gant assertions. 

The Great Schism. — 

Myers— "The spectacle of two rival Popes, each 
claiming to be the rightful successor of St. Peter and the 
sole infallible head of the Church, very naturally led men 
to question the claims and infallibility of both." 

Comment— \Wh.\\& Catholics might doubt which one 
was the Pope, no Catholic doubted that he who was Pope, 
was the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and possessed of supreme 
and infallible authority to teach and govern the faithful. 

Myers— "It gave the reverence which the world had 
so generally held for the Holy Roman See a rude shock, 
and one from which it never recovered." 

Comment— There is not one of the two hundred and 
fifty millions of Catholics now in the world who doubts 
the infallibility of the Roman Pontiff. 

The Church Councils of Pisa and Constance. — 

Myers— "In the person of Pope Martin V. the Catho- 
lic world was again united under a single spiritual head. 
The schism was outwardly healed." 

Comment—Schism is not heresy, is not infidelity, 
which may be hidden sins ; but schism is essentially "out- 
ward," and therefore when outwardly healed is radically 
and totally healed. 

Myers— "The dissolute and rapacious character of 
many of the rival Popes had cast ineffaceable stains upon 
the robes of the pontifical office." 



110 - MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — We do not defend the anti-popes, nor can 
we say that all the Popes have been saints ; but as a class 
they have been pre-eminently the ablest, the most heroic, 
and the best men with whom God in his mercy has blessed 
the world. 

Myers — "The awe and reverence which had once been 
felt for the Holy See were forever destroyed." 

Comment — On the contrary, it is probable that no 
Pope since the time of St. Peter has enjoyed the confi- 
dence, admiration and reverence of the whole people 
more than Pope Leo XIII, whose body, at this writing,' 
lies in state in St. Peter's Church, Rome. 

Myers — "The splendid scheme of Hilderbrand * * * 
had at last, as to one-half its purpose, proved an utter 
failure." 

Comment — All the reforms he contemplated he could 
not effect, and Christian civilization has suffered for it. 
He sought to untrammel the Church from worldly re- 
straints upon her vigor and freedom, that she might 
exert the full measure of her salutary influence upon 
society; but the opposition of sordid monarchs prevented 
the perfect realization of this plan. 

The Papacy remains a Spiritual Theocracy. — • 

Myers — "The Council of Constance * * * decreed 
that the Pope is subject to an ecumenical council, and that 
a decision of the Roman See may be appealed from to the 
judgment of the Church in council." 

Comment — This decree having never received the 
Papal confirmation, is, and alv/ays was, null and void. 

Myers— "Thus the Cliurch was for a moment con- 
verted into a limited monarchy." 



mistake;s and misstateme;nts. Ill 

Comment — We have said that the decree of the Coun- 
cil of Constance was null and void, and absolutely with- 
out effect; and hence the Church was not converted into 
a limited monarchy. Indeed, the Church cannot change 
her divine constitution. She is quite a different institu- 
tion from a "Tract Society" or "Prayer Meeting." 

MyUrs — "And perhaps if this form could have actu- 
ally been impressed upon it, and general councils regularly 
convened, the Roman Catholic Church might have gradu- 
ally corrected those abuses that had crept into it, and the 
great popular revolt of the sixteenth century have been 
prevented." 

Comment — It may be with the very best intentions 
that Mr. Myers offers his opinion ; but we assure him that 
both his opinion and his counsel will be regarded by 
Catholics as undesirable, incompetent and valueless. 

Mye;rs — "But Martin V., the Pope elected by the 
Council of Constance, in unfortunate opposition to the 
edicts of that assembly, issued a bull declaring 'it un- 
lawful for any one either to appeal from the judgment 
of the Apostolic See, or to reject its decisions in mat- 
ters of faith.' " 

Comment — Mr. Myers is not the proper judge of the 
case; and whether the Pope's opposition was fortunate 
or unfortunate, is not a matter coming under his jurisdic- 
tion to determine. Pope Martin V. had exclusive juris- 
diction, and his decision is final. 



~ CHAPTER V. 

Conquests oi? tpiij Turanian or Tartar Tribes. 

Introductory. — 

The Tiiraiiians and Aryans Compared. — 

Myers — "The Turanians and i\ryans both exchanged 
their primitive faiths for rehgions borrowed from the 
Semites. * * '■' * The Aryans generally accepted the 
faith of the Hebrew Teacher, while the Turanians chose 
that of the Arabian Prophet." 

Comment — A man who thinks that Christianity is a 
thing borrowed or loaned, and Christian faith a com- 
modity exchangeable among men, and not a supernatural 
gift of God, must be an intellectual curiosity. Again, we 
wish to remind the learned but careless author that Chris- 
tians regard the comparison of the "Hebrew Teacher" 
with the "Arabian Prophet" as highly disrespectful to our 
divine Lord. 

The Parthian Empire. — 

The Huns and Hungarians. — 

The Selfukian Turks. — 

The Mongols, or Moguls. — 

Myers — "It is estimated that the enormous Mogul 
Empire was built up at the cost of fifty thousand cities 
and towns and five millions of lives, — a greater w.aste, 
probably, than resulted from all the crusades." 

112 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATKMIJNTS. 113 

Comment— It is not lawful to compare the devasta- 
tion of unrighteous war with the pious sacrifices of the 
crusades. The lives and property spent in the latter were 
not wasted. A greater than Myers has said : "He that 
loseth his life for My sake shall find it." 

Th]^ Ottoman Empire. 

Pounding of the Empire. — 

The Jani::aries. — 

The Conquests of Bajaact. — 

Myers— "Bajazet vowed that he would stable his 
horse in the Cathedral of St! Peter at Rome." 

Comment— Did he fulfil his vow? Not exactly, for 
God whistled, and an eagle swooped down from the East. 

Myers— "Bajazet himself was taken prisoner. The 
conqueror, Tamerlane, treated his unfortunate rival with 
ungenerous barbarity, carrying him about with him in an 
iron cage." 

Cowman/— Sacrilege is a crime that generally receives, 
as it deserves, a terrible visible chastisement. ' 

The Capture of Constantinople. — 

Check to the Ottoman Arms. — 



CHAPTER Vi. 

Growth oi? ti-ii; Towns : Tiir; Itatjan Cttv- 
Repubucs. 

T]\e Teutons and the Roman Towns. — 

Revival of the Old Towns and Founding of Nezv Ones. — 

Relation of the Cities to the Feudal Lords. — 

Rise of the Italian City-Re piihlics. — 

The Lombard Leagiie. — 

Dissensions among the Italian Republics. — 

Myers— "The Ghibellines * * * * adhered to the 
Emperor, and the Guelphs * * * espoused the cause of 
his enemy, the Pope." 

Comment — We do not think that the author is so 
ignorant of the significance of words as to use without a 
purpose one synonym instead of another. Now, there are 
four common Enghsh words that express the relation of 
opposition between men, adversary, opponent, antagonist, 
and enemy; and of these, enemy is the only one that 
necessarily implies a state of personal hostility. Was the 
selection made with malice aforethought, or by unfortu- 
nate and inexcusable accident? 

Myers — "The Venetians had this maxim : ^ 'Venice 
first, Christians next, and Italy afterwards.' " 

Comment — Many maxims in general use do not ex- 
press the general, much less the universal, sentiment of 

114 



MISTAKISS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 115 

the people. Some Venetians may have set their city above 
the Church, just as some Americans esteem our RepubHc 
more than Christianity, and think that patriotism de- 
mands such deordination ; but all the Venetians, and all 
the Americans, are not so stupid. 

The Bstablishiiicnf of Tyrannies. — 
Venice. — 

Myers — "Her supremacy on the sea was celebrated 
each year by the unique ceremony of 'Wedding the Adri- 
atic' * * * * The Pontiffs of Rome had come to think 
that the sea as well as the land was theirs to dispose of as 
they pleased." 

Comment — No Pontiff claimed ownership of the Adri- 
atic, nor bestowed it upon the Venetians ; but Alexander 
III. commissioned the Doge to protect it as a wife, 
against the incursions of pirates and free-booters, and 
to publish his commission by the annual celebration of 
the Wedding of the Adriatic. 

Genoa. — 

Pisa. — ■ 

Florence. — 

The Hanseatic League. — . 

Influence of the Mediaeval Cities. — 

Myers — "Extended commercial relations with Greek, 
Saracen, and pagan had precisely the same effect upon 
the trader that contact with different peoples and civili- 
zations had on the intolerant and ignorant crusader. His 



116 MISTAKES AND MISSTATliAlENTS. 

curiosity was aroused, his mind liberalized, his horizon 
broadened." 

Comment — We have several times been told by the 
author that Islam has blighted every nation adopting it; 
that it represses the aspirations, "paralyzes the will," and 
"inspires a blind and bigoted hatred of race and creed." 
Just how, then, association with the Saracens could liberal- 
ize the mind, and broaden the horizon of a Christian, we 
are at a loss to understand ; unless it be that indifference 
to virtue and truth, which is the common fruit of evil as- 
sociations, is mistaken for liberality. And, indeed, mod- 
ern infidelity generally does confound liberality with re- 
ligious indifiference. A man is called liberal, not be- 
cause he is tolerant of those who maintain views contrary 
to his faith, but because, wanting faith himself, he is in- 
different to the professions of others. Liberality is a 
species of charity, and is a great virtue; indifference, on 
the contrary, is a grievous sin against the first command- 
ment, and the mother of much evil in society. Travel 
gives great experience, and often corrects false notions. It 
is a factor in education. 



; CHAPTER VII. 

Tut RuviVAiv 01^ Learning. 

The Revival Outlined: — 

Myers — "What is known distinctively as the 'Revival' 
ends with the Reformation, the great event of the six- 
teenth century; but ends * * * * as the morning ends 
when it merges into the fuller light of the day." 

Comment — We are told with all the spread-eagle elo- 
quence of the Fourth of July, that the Reformation was 
"the great event of the sixteenth century." If we ask the 
author in what it was great except protests, professions, 
promises, and commotions, he cannot answer. He merely 
voices his prejudices, and parrot-like repeats the declama- 
tions of others. Did the Protestant Reformation intro- 
duce a single truth not taught by the Catholic Church? 
Not one. Did it bring out into clearer view any truth be- 
fore but dimly seen? It did not. Did it reform any 
abuse? No. It simply protested against the True Church, 
virtually denied revelation by denying its interpreter, 
divided Europe in faith and charity, and prevented, or 
postponed great national and international social, political, 
and religious reforms. It is a common opinion among 
Catholic statesmen that had the great religious revolt 
never occurred both Asia and Africa would now be civil- 
ized and Christianized, and the inhabitants of the whole 
world would be united in one faith and one charity. 

117 



118 mistakes and misstatements. 

Scholasticism and the Schoolmen. 
The Origin of Scholasticism.- — 

Myers — '"'The Schoolmen did not question the truth 
or soundness of the theology of the Church." 

Comment — The Church has no theology; she has 
Christian doctrine or revelation. Theology is science pro- 
duced by human reason studying the truths of revela- 
tion. 

Myers — "They accepted all the writings of the 
Fathers."' 

Comment — They did not and could not, for the 
Fathers sometimes disagree. They accepted the decisions 
of the Church. 

Myers — ''The Schoolmen said : 'God has given us our 
reasoning faculty that we may search out final causes.' " 

Comment — Oh no, Mr. Myers, they said no such 
thing; for they believed in one only final cause, God, for 
whom all things were made, and to whom all things will 
return. 

Myers — "And so with no instrument save the logic 
of Aristotle, and no knowledge of the laws, forces, or 
agencies of the universe, physical or spiritual, they fell 
to work upon the stupendous pile of dogmas and legends 
of the Church." 

Comment — Has Mr. Myers so far forgotten the his- 
torian's duty to truth, as to seriously assert that the 
Schoolmen had "no knowledge of the laws, forces, or 
agencies of the universe, physical or spiritual?" Pray, 
tell us, Mr. Myers, what are the spiritual agencies of Ihe 
universe of which they were ignorant ; electricity, at- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 119 

traction of gravitation, etc. ? But these are not spiritual. 
If you mean by spiritual forces and agencies, angels; 
how can you say that the Schoolmen knew nothing of 
them? You certainly cannot think that their knowledge 
of spiritual agencies was inferior to your own. The 
fact is that the Schoolmen had comparatively little to 
do with the natural sciences, and when they introduced 
them, it was generally by way of illustration. In purely 
intellectual science, they far surpass the moderns and, 
perhaps, even the ancients. He who speaks lightly of 
their intellectual triumphs, betrays his inability to ap- 
preciate them. 

The Greatest of the Schoolmen. — 

Myers — "The maxim of this typical schoolman, John 
Scotus Erigena, was, 'I believe in order that I may un- 
derstand.' " 

Comment — This may be very funny to Mr. Myers, 
and seem very absurd ; but we would ask, what is his 
maxim in reasoning upon revealed doctrines the truth of 
which cannot be directly perceived by the intellect ? Would 
he first doubt, that afterward he may understand? Does 
he not know that he \vho reasons from doubtful premises 
ends in doubtful conclusions ? We fear that the school of 
Duns Scotus did not comprise all the dunces. 

Myers — "About the close of the fifteenth century 
* * * * the Schoolmen, whose Latin was a barbarous 
jargon, * * * * fell into contempt." 

Comment — The Schoolmen sought not eloquence, but 
lucidity of expression — they were teachers. In some re- 
spects their Latin was superior to our author's English. 



120 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMEINTS. 

Myers — "The Schoolmen whose real knowledge of 
Aristotle was very slight, fell into contempt." 

Comment — We dare say that Mr. Myers never found 
any misinterpretation of Aristotle in any of the works 
of the great Schoolmen. They knew Aristotle from be- 
ginning to end. 

Myers — "The low estimate in which the followers of 
one of the greatest of the Schoolmen was held is pre- 
served in our word 'dunce,' applied to a disciple of Duns 
Scotus." 

Comment — A certain writer has said that when we 
complain of the ignorance of learned men, it were wiser 
to find fault with our inability to understand them. Were 
the professor to study the works of Duns Scotus or St. 
Thomas of Aquin for a term of years, he doubtless would 
be as much ashamed of his foolish criticism of the School- 
men as are we. 

Faults of the Schoolmen. — 

Myers — "The Schoolmen busied themselves with the 
most unprofitable questions in metaphysics and theology." 

Comment- — ^^It may be so. Let ■ us hear what those 
questions were. 

Myers — "As, 'How many angels could dance at once 
on the point of a needle ?' " 

Comment — That is only a jocular way of asking the 
serious- question : Do angels occupy space? Can the 
professor answer it? 

Myers — "'Do angels in moving from place to" place 
pass through intervening space?' " 



MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATEMI^NTS. 121 

Comment — Yes, that is the question; — do they? Do 
angels, creatures without material dimensions, need to 
pass through intervening space in order to be now at 
the bottom of College Hill, and now at the top? If the 
professor will get his mind down to the subject he may 
soon discover that the difficulty cannot be solved with a 
sneer. 

Myers — " 'Do angels have stomachs?' " 

Coinnient — That is, do angels require nutriment? and 
if so, of what kind? and what organs are required for its 
assimilation? Angels are creatures, therefore depend- 
ent, therefore living by participation. What, then, is 
their food, and how do they use it? The question is not 
so foolish after all. 

Myers — " 'If an ass were placed exactly midway be- 
tween two stacks of hay, would he ever move?' " 

Couimeni — That is, does an animal act without a mo- 
tive? And if two objects were to present exactly equal 
motives, would one object be preferred to the other? And 
if not, would the anim.al ever act? For example, if a 
soft feather-bed and a cup of hot coffee were the only two 
and exactly equal attractions at sun-rise, would Mr. Myers 
get up, or stay in bed ? Would he ever get up ? Could he 
get up? 

Myers — "The dispute between Nominalists and Real- 
ists — too metaphysical a question for explanation in this 
place " 

Comment — -Yes, or in any other place — for you. 

Myers — ^"The dispute between Nominalists and Real- 
ists * * * distracted the schools and the Church for cen- 
turies." 



122 mistake;s and misstatements. 

Comment — It engaged, and entertained, and may 
sometimes have annoyed, the Schoohnen and churchmen ; 
but it did nqt distract the Church. The Church decides 
these questions with wondrous facihty. The dispute was^ 
not unprofitable. 

Myers — "The greatest mistake of the Schoohnen was 
in their assuming everything taught by theology to be 
true." 

Comment — That cannot be, for they themselves were 
theologians, and their teaching was theology. Had they 
assumed "everything taught by theology to be true," there 
could have been no disputes among them. But they did 
not believe all theology to be true; they believed revela- 
tion to be true, and they believed that the Church was 
the custodian and interpreter of revelation : and, therefore, 
when the Church gave a decision, their disputes on that 
point stopped. We fear that this explanation is lost upon 
the professor, for we are well convinced that no disciple 
of Duns Scotus ever was on these subjects more be- 
fuddled and befogged than he. We assure him that the 
Schoolmen will be studied long after his silly criticism 
of them shall have been repudiated and forgotten. 

Good Effects of the System. — 

Myers — "The entire scholastic movement * * * * 
'was the first step in the revival of learning,' and not 
only so, but it was the first step in the more distant 
movement of the Reformation." 

Comment — It seems that our author cannot forget 
the "dunce" who impressed him so deeply. He seems 
to think that he was the precursor of the Reformation. 
It may be so. But between the rigidly logical and con- 



MiS'JAKES ANJD MtSSTATEMl^NT^S; l23 

sistent theology of the Schoolmen and the fragmentary, 
halting, and self-contradictory, theology of the Reform- 
ers, there is only contrast, not comparison. 

Myers — "There were dangers lurking in so much 
thinking." 

Comment — What a Solomon our author is ! "There 
were dangers lurking in so much thinking!" Wonderful 
statement ! Surely he did not incur that danger when 
he wrote his criticism of the Schoolmen. But why does 
he not tell us how much thinking is too much ? 

Myers — "Peter Abelard was accustomed to tell his 
scholars, 'We should not believe unless we first under- 
stand.' " 

Comment — By which Peter Abelard taught that phil- 
osophy is a science whose conclusions are to be accepted, 
not on the authority of the teacher, but on the authority 
of his argument. When John Scotus Erigena said, as 
quoted above, that "I believe in order that I may under- 
stand ;" he was speaking of the truths revealed by God. 
The distinction is very clear, and very just. Both the 
Schoolmen were right. 

The Universities. — 
Influence of the Saracens. — 

Myers — "The Saracens * * * * during the Dark 
Ages, were almost the sole repositories of the scientific 
knowledge of the world * * * * The Arabian scholars 
were original investigators." 

Comment — To us this statement seems to be in direct 
conflict with the author's quotation from Osborn, in "The 
Defects of Islam," which states that the scientific knowl- 



124 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

edge of the Saracens was not original with them, but bor- 
rowed from the Eastern Christians. It is also in seem- 
ing conflict with the author's own statement under the 
same caption, that Islam "bars every avenue of social or 
individual progress and improvement." Now, "original 
investigation," and progress in "scientific knowledge" are 
individual ; and as there was no "individual progress and 
improvement," there was no "original investigation," no 
improvement in "scientific knowledge." It could not rea- 
sonably have been expected that such a stagnant race 
would or could retain the knowledge which they bor- 
rowed, nor did they. 

Myers — "Roger Bacon frightened all his contempo- 
raries by his marvelous knowledge of mechanics, optics, 
chemistry, and other sciences, and was shut up in a dun- 
geon on the charge of being in league with the devil." 

Comment — Great inventors have usually been an- 
noyed by the suspicions and opposition of their acquaint- 
ances ; but no serious harm, and no religious persecution 
could long afflict one who was an intimate friend of the 
reigning Pope, Clement IV., to whom he had dedicated his 
great scientific work, "Opus Majus." 

MyErs — "Whatever is owing to Roger Bacon and Al- 
bertus Magnus becomes, it must be borne in mind, in 
large measure a debt to Arabian scholarship." 

Comment — It is as hard for the professor to forget 
the Saracen as the "dunce." He thinks that the illumina- 
tion of the earth is due to "the dark clouds that gather 
about the sun;" and that modern science and learning is 
the work of those who overthrew and destroyed mediaeval 
institutions of science and learning. This is a unique 



MISTAKES AND MISStATliMKNTS. 1^5 

method of reasoning; one with which the Schoohnen 
were Httle conversant. 

As the Saracens have for centuries shown no scientific 
genius, it is beHeved by many great historians and phil- 
osophers that they never were profound, much less, origi- 
nal thinkers ; and that what scientific knowledge they 
once possessed they obtained from .contact with Eastern 
Christian civilization, and the Fathers of the deserts 
that they overran. There is little doubt that the hermits 
in their solitudes made prodigious advances in scientific 
research. 

Effects of the Crusades. — 

Rise of Modern Languages and Literatures. — 

The New Stimuhis. — 

Humanism and the Humanists. 

The Italian Renaissance. — 

Causes of the Bnthusiasm. — 

Myers — "Dante, by making Virgil his guide through 
Hell and Purgatory, and by always speaking of him with 
loving reverence as his teacher and master, gracefully 
acknowledges the help and inspiration received from the 
Augustan poet." 

Comment— \irg\\, being a pagan, could teach the 
Christian Dante nothing about Hell and Purgatory. How 
much soever Dante may have been indebted to Virgil 
as a poet, he certainly owed him nothing as an instructor 
in Christian doctrine. 



126 MISTAKliS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Petrarch and Boccaccio. — 

Myers — "Boccaccio's theory of life was just the op- 
posite of that entertained by the monks." 

Cojument — So much the worse for Boccaccio's theory. 

Myers — "He beHeved that this earthly existence 
should be regarded as a blessing, that it should be made 
a joyous thing." 

Comment — Thus far the monks agreed with him per- 
fectly. But how about the means of making it "a joyous 
thing ?" 

Myers — "He would release man from the cloistered 
dungeon in which Monasticism had shut him." 

Comment — When two fools or knaves get together 
the folly and knavery of each is intensified. Boccaccio 
was bad enough, but with his modern exponent he be- 
comes two-fold wickeder. What must men and women 
of sense, Catholics and Protestants, think of this ebulli- 
tion of stupidity and calumny ? Why, the most inglorious, 
the most shameful of all victories, is that which is won 
by misrepresenting your adversary, and then attacking 
the misrepresentation. Yet this is precisely what the 
professor does. The cloister is not a dungeon, and 
Monasticism does not deprive men and women of hap- 
piness on earth. There is, perhaps, not a monk in 
America whose mind is narrower or less free, or whose 
heart is less joyful, than the mind and heart of the 
author of Myers' History. Our divine Lord declares 
that he who renounces the world for his sake "shall re- 
ceive an hundred fold reward now in this time, and in 
the world to come everlasting life." Now, the monk 
renounces the world for Christ's sake. Let the^ pro- 
fessor draw the conclusion. 



mistak:e;s and misstatements. 127 

Search for Old Manuscripts. — 

Myers— ''Symonds says '^ * * * 'these new Knights 
of the Holy Ghost * =^ * * felt holy transport when a 
brown, begrimed, and crabbed scrap of some Greek or 
Latin author rewarded their patient search.' " 

Comment — "Knight .of the Holy Ghost" was a civil, 
not an ecclesiastical title, and we think it a very inap- 
propriate one for him whose occupation was searching 
for pagan literature. 

Effects of the Fall of the Greek Umpire. — 

The Bnthusiasm Crosses the Alps. — 

Myers — "What was in the South a restoration of 
classical literature and art * * * * becomes, in the more 
serious and less sensuous North, a revival of primitive 
Christianity. * * * * The Renaissance =^ * * * be- 
comes the Reformation." 

Comment — Classical literature was pagan literature, 
and classical art was pagan art, and whatever of religion 
was taught by either was pagan, and anti-Christian. The 
restoration of this pagan, anti-Christian, religion, was 
the Reformation; so says the professor. But he says 
more : he says that it was the revival of primitive Chris- 
tianity. But as there was nothing of primitive Christian- 
ity in the classical pagan literature and art, their restora- 
tion could not have reproduced it. Therefore the Refor- 
mation was not the revival of primitive Christianity. 

No Protestant denomination can identify itself with 
primitive Christianity in either doctrine or discipline. 
The writings of the Fathers, the decrees of the general 
councils, the symbols of faith, the furniture of the Church, 



9- 



128 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

and the sacraments, rites and ceremonies, prove beyond all 
doubt the identity of primitive Christianity with the 
Catholic Church; and he who cannot see it, has no rea- 
son to pride himself on his perspicacity. 

Myers — "The Humanist becomes the Reformer." 

Comment — And what did he reform? When Luther 
took a wife, did he reform marriage ? When King Henry 
Vni. divorced and killed his wives, and confiscated 
Church property, did he reform the Ten Command- 
ments? And so on through the rest of the Reformers. 
This is not reformation, but deformation ; not the rehabil- 
itation of virtue, but vice; not the "revival of primitive 
Christianity," but the reader may name it. 

Bvil and Good Results of the Classical Revival. — ■ 

Myers — "The age of the Renaissance, with its long- 
ings and superstitious fears, is well epitomized in the 
tradition of Dr. Faustus." 

Comment — Why does he call those fears superstitious, 
having already told us that they were realized : "The 
humanistic spirit," "in Italy, especially," "was disastrous 
to both faith and morals ?" 

MyERS — " 'The secret of enjoyment and the source 
of strength possessed by the ancients allured them.' " 

Comment — What secret of enjoyment? The Epi- 
curean secret of enjoyment: "Let us eat and drink, for 
tomorrow we die?" And what "source of strength?" 
The author explains ; Dr. Faustus "sold himself to the 
devil." Corrupt nature longed for the "flesh pots of 
Egypt," for freedom from Christian restraints ; for the 
power that devils have and confer on their votaries. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATUMIJNTS. 129 

David sang in the Psalms : "All the idols of the gentiles 
are devils." The irreligious Christians before the Refor- 
mation, would worship at their shrines, and sell an 
eternal birthright for temporal favors; and where they 
succeeded in establishing new religions, they called them 
"primitive Christianity." So we have to-day Christian 
Science, Spiritism, and hundreds of religious denomina- 
tions, all of which are a revival of more or less of pagan 
doctrines and practices. 

Myers—" 'Faustus is therefore a parable of the im- 
potent yearnings of the spirit in the Middle Ages, 
* * * * its fettered curiosity amid the cramping limits 
of impotent knowledge and irrational dogmatisms.' " 

Comment — Men sell themselves to the devil in every 
age ; but they who so dispose of their souls, long ago re- 
jected the dogmas of the Church. The sale is not made 
to free them from the dogmas. "The cramping limits of 
dogmatisms" is Vv^hat our Saviour calls "the narrow way 
that leadeth to life." The broad way with its wide gate 
He calls "the way that leadeth to perdition." However, 
many of our modern writers choose to praise it as. the 
way of freedom and enlightenment ; and that is no doubt 
the reason why reformers, revolutionists, and sons of 
Belial of every kind, are so heartily applauded. 

Myers— "During the Middle Ages, the Latin lan- 
guage had become vulgarized in the hands of the monks 
and schoolmen, had degenerated into a barbarous jar- 
gon." 

Comment— "ThQ language of the Schoolmen is simple 
and plain, and an apt medium for the communication of 
scientific truths ; but we do not think it either barbarous 
or vulgar. We generally find that the loudest declaimers 



130 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

against its unclassical latinity are they who cannot under- 
stand it, simple as it is. 

Myers — "The Greek language had been lost, and 
Greek philosophy perverted." 

Comment — The Greek language had not been lost. 
Most certainly not lost in the East; nor even in the 
West, for the works of the Schoolmen abound with Greek 
quotations. As to Greek philosophy, it had been con- 
verted, not perverted, by the Schoolmen. We ask Mr. 
Myers if it is not true that Greek philosophy had been 
written by the pagan Greeks to subserve paganism, and 
to inculcate their idolatrous and polytheistic notions of 
truth ? And did not the Schoolmen remold it in a Chris- 
tian form, and correct its defects, and remove its errors? 
Was this perversion? It was conversion, and highly 
commendable. But when the Renaissance restored the 
ancient classics, it tended to restore the impure philosophy 
of the ancients. Was not that deplorable and even con- 
demnable? How can Mr. Myers applaud that tendency 
unless he prefers gilded error to unadorned truth? Un- 
less he admires polished paganism above unpolished 
Christianity? It is men of his school who are perpetuat- 
ing the evil of the Renaissance. 

Myers — " 'Greece stretches out her hand to Italy ; 
Italy consigns the sacred fire to Northern Europe; the 
people of the North pass on the flame to America, to 
India, and the Australasian Isles.' " 

Comment — What "sacred fire" was that that went 
the rounds ? Literature in itself is not sacred : pagan 
philosophy was not sacred. Our author is as tangl&d in 
his words as in his ideas. 



MISTAKKS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 131 

Printing. — 

Myers — "Without printing * * * * the Reformation 
could hardly have become a fact in history." 

Comment — A plain admission that the Reformation 
was of human origin. 

Myers — "Its instrument, the press, is fitly chosen as 
the symbol of the new era of intelligence and freedom 
which it ushered in." 

Comment — The press is the disseminator of good and 
evil, of truth and error. The Police Gazette and our 
yellow-backed dime and nickel novels depend on the 
press in the same way as did the Reformation. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Growth of the; Nations. — Formation of National 

Gove;rnme;nts and Litijratures. 

Introductory. — 

I. England. 
General Statement. — 
Magna Charta. — 

Myers — "We have in another place told how John 
made his peace with the Church by doing homage to the 
Pope and making England a fief of the See of Rome. 
This pusillanimous act awakened the greatest indignation 
among all classes throughout England." 

Comment — It was not then regarded as pusillanimous. 
The state of vassalage was the condition of most of 
the princes of Christendom. The King of Scotland 
was the vassal of the King of England ; and the King 
of England was the vassal of the King of Erance. John's 
father, King Henry, had been a feudatory of Pope Alex- 
ander III. The lion-hearted Richard had held his crown 
from the German Emperor. And as to the act arousing 
indignation throughout England; on the contrary, it 
gave the barons a protector to whom they might appeal 
from the despotic government of their king. 

Myers — "Magna Charta * * * * must be considered 
the most imxportant concession that a freedom-loving peo- 
ple ever wrung from a tyrannical, sovereign." 

Comment — And it should be remembered that Magna 
Charta was a distinctively Catholic document, wrested 

13? 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 133 

by Catholic noblemen led by Stephen Langton, Catholic 
Archbishop of Canterbury and papal legate, from the 
tyrant King John. Magna Charta is merely an exten- 
sion of moral theology. It became part of the com- 
mon law of England, and subsequently was made the 
foundation of our Declaration of Independence, and of 
constitutional liberty for English-speaking peoples in all 
parts of the world. 

Beginning of the House of Commons. — 

Conquest of Wales. — 

Wars With Scotland. 
Edzvard's Ambition. — 

Hozu Scotland Beeame a Fief of the English Crozvn. — 
Failure of the Celtic Line of Scottish Kings. — 
Bdzuard and the Stone of Scone. — 
William Wallace. — 
Robert Bruce. — 
The Battle of Bannockburn. — 

The Hundred Years' War. 
Origin of the War. — 
Jlie Battle of Crecy. — 
The Capture of Calais. — ■ 
The Battle of Poitiers. — 
Battle of Agincourt. — 
Joan of Arc. — 

Myers — "The young peasant girl, with imagination 
all aflame from brooding over her country's wrongs and 



134 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

sufferings, seemed to see visions and hear voices, which 
bade her undertake the work of dehvering France. She 
was obedient unto the heavenly visions." 

Comment — It were far better that subjects of this 
kind had been aUogether omitted by the author, for he 
is not one of those writers who can treat them properly. 
He seems to deny miracles, and God's special providence 
in the world, and in consequence, the sublimest subjects, 
at his hands, are made to appear vulgar or ridiculous. 
Moreover, his descriptions abound in contradictions ; for 
example, Joan's imagination was aflame, and in her ex- 
citement she thought that she saw visions and heard 
voices ; that is, she was deluded and mentally deranged. 
"Yet she was obedient unto the heavenly visions." Now, 
this is an offense against both intelligence and faith. 
Heavenly visions are not imaginary, but real ; and the 
author's attempt to confound the delusions of insanity 
with the ecstasies of the saints is not creditable to him. 
Those who write after this manner must expect to be 
classed with Mark Twain, Bob Ingersoll, etc. 

Effects of the War Upon England. — 

The Wars of the Roses. 
Causes of the Quarrel. — 
The King-Maker. — 
Chief Battles of the War. — 
The Effects of the War. — 

Growth of the Engeish Language and Literature. 
The Language. — 

Effect on English Literature of the Norman Conquest. — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 135 

Chancer. — 

Myers — "Chaucer's greatest and most important work 
is his Canterbury Tales * * * * * * There is a knight, a 
nun, a monk, a merchant, a parson, a vender of indul- 
gences, a cook, a ploughman, a country gentleman, sev- 
eral wealthy tradesmen, and various other persons." 

Comment — The poet says : "Keen optics he must 
have, I ween ; Who sees what is not to be seen." You will 
find all the characters enumerated by the author, in the 
prologue, to the Canterbury Tales, except only one, — 
the "Vender of Indulgences." The insertion of this char- 
acter savors of dishonesty. 

Myers — -"When Chaucer describes the pardoner as 
having his wallet 'bret-ful of pardouns come from Rome 
al hoot,' we can guess how the age is beginning to think 
about the sale of indulgences." 

Comment — There is nothing said by Chaucer about 
the sale of indulgences ; nor is the matter hinted at. The 
"Pardoner" had received from the Pope more exten- 
sive faculties for forgiving sins, and these faculties he 
had in his "wallet." The Catholic reader will understand 
this : the Pope reserves to himself the power to absolve 
from certain uncommon sins; the bishop of the diocese 
acts in like manner; the priest, therefore, is not quali- 
fied to absolve in these several reserved cases, but must 
refer the penitent to the Pope or bishop. Sometimes, 
and for certain reasons, the Pope or the bishop delegates 
his full power to a priest. This extraordinary -power, 
these unusual faculties, the "Pardoner," of whom Chaucer 
speaks, possessed. Our author certainly has great hardi- 
hood to attempt the explanation of a matter of which 
he is totally ignorant. 



136 mistake;s and misstatements. 

Piers Ploughman. — 

Myers — "These poems quiver with sympathy for the 
hungry, labor-worn peasant * * * '•'' despised by haughty 
lords and robbed by shameless ecclesiastics." 

Comment — Mr. Myers probably knows very well that 
there were no poor-houses in England prior to the Refor- 
mation, and that the content and happiness of the poorer 
classes, who were assisted by their neighbors and the 
monasteries, merited for that country the title "Merry 
England." Now, England is the richest and poorest 
land on earth ; the monasteries, confiscated by the Re- 
formers, no longer providing for the needs of the poor. 

Would that Mr. Myers had thought it worth his while 
to inform us how the "shameless ecclesiastics" succeeded 
in their robberies. They had neither the army nor con- 
stabulary at their command, and man to man they could 
hardly "hope to match in strength the hardy yeomanry, 
especially as the author so eloquently insists that monas- 
ticism is the grave of valor, and prayer enfeebles the 
strength, and the monks were always at their prayers. 

Mr. Myers may reply that he does not mean violent 
robbery, but only a willingness to receive support from 
even the poorest peasants. But this explanation will not 
clear him of insincerity, for it is not the apparent mean- 
ing of his words ; nor will it excuse him of error, for 
the Holy Scriptures teach that the poorest should con- 
tribute something; and our divine Lord commends the 
generosity of the poor widow who gave a mite, her en- 
tire property, into the treasury of the Temple. 

There is a lesson suggested by this attack upon the 
English ecclesiastics, and it is this : Experience toaches 
that those ranters against priests for receiving gifts and 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 137 

support from the poor, are themselves the first to oppress 
the poor, the most relentless in exacting, and the most 
niggardly in giving. Their sympathy is of that maudlin 
kind that prompts to copious tears and stingy alms. 

Myers — "Occasional outbursts of wrath against the 
favored classes are the mutterings of the storm soon to 
burst upon the social world in the fury of the Peasant 
Revolt, and upon the religious world in the upheavals 
of the Reformation." 

Comment — We think that the author now calls things 
by their right names. So the Reformation was a furious 
"revolt," a series of "upheavals" and "outbursts of 
wrath." Yet the Scriptures declare : "The anger of man 
worketh not the justice of God." 

Wycliffe and the Reformation. — 

Myers — "Wycliflfe gave the English people the first 
translation of the entire Bible in their native tongue." 

Comment — Numerous authorities, both Catholic and 
Protestant, prove that Bibles in the vulgar tongue were 
circulated and read centuries before Wycliffe. 

Myers — "Wycliffe, 'the Morning Star of the Reform- 
ation.' " 

Comment — It is a terrible charge against the Reform- 
ation, to associate it with Wycliffeism. Wycliffeism is 
so irrational, its principles are so absurd, that it must 
be classed as a phase of insanity. 

Myers — "In 1415 the Council of Constance, the as- 
sembly that condemned to the stake Huss and Jerome, — " 

Comment — Huss was convicted of heresy by the Gen- 
eral Council of Constance. On his refusal to abjure 
his heresy he was delivered to the civil authorities with 



138 MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

the prayer that his Hfe be spared, and that he be con- 
demned to perpetual imprisonment; but the Emperor 
Sigismund who had declared during the trial that, "there 
never was a more mischievous heretic than Huss," was 
unwilling to mitigate the usual punishment, especially as 
Huss had committed serious crimes against the civil gov- 
ernment. One of Huss' pet doctrines was that a pri- 
vate citizen is justified in killing a tyrant, and is com- 
petent to determine whether a ruler is a tyrant. This 
doctrine would have justified the assassination of Presi- 
dent McKinley by Leon Czolgosz. Jerome was asso- 
ciated with Huss — they were two of a kind. 

Caxton and the Printing Press. — 

Myers — "Manifestly a new day — one to be filled Avith 
intellectual and moral revolutions — was breaking over the 
land of Alfred and Wycliffe." 

Comment — A new day is not always a better day ; 
an intellectual revolution is sometimes a revolt against 
reason ; and a moral revolution is frequently a very im- 
moral one. With characteristic ineptness Mr. Myers 
associates Alfred and Wycliffe, the great scholar and 
the charlatan, the true-reformer and the pseudo-reformer, 
the saint and the fanatic. 

n. France. 
Beginning of the French Kingdom. — 

France Under the Capetians. 
General Statement. — 
The English Possessions in France. — 
The French and the Crusades. — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 139 

Persecution of the Albigcnscs. — 

Myers — "During this age of perverted religious en- 
thusiasm holy wars were directed as well against heretics 
as infidels." 

Comment — A heretic is an incipient infidel. Infidelity 
is the denial of revelation, and heresy is the denial of 
the authorized teacher of revelation. Revelation without 
a divine teacher and interpreter is unintelligible and in- 
credible; and hence the rejection of the teacher is virtual- 
ly the rejection of the doctrine, no matter what profes- 
sion of faith the heretic may make. Facts bear out the 
argument, for heresy to-day is everywhere lapsing into 
downright infidelity. 

The Albigenses held Alanichaean doctrines, believing 
that matter is evil and from the devil. They practiced 
monstrous carnal excesses, and perpetrated the most 
fiendish cruelties. Pope Innocent III. declared "their 
teachings ruinous to the Church and subversive of social 
order, and themselves more wicked than Saracens." As 
they refused to be instructed in the faith, and assas- 
sinated the papal legate, Peter of Castelnau, whom the 
Pope sent to them; the Pope ordered that a crusade be 
preached against them. When later word was brought to 
Innocent of the cruelties of the crusaders in the war, he 
was prostrated with grief. No responsibility can be at- 
tached to the Pope for the excesses of Simon de Mont- 
fort, leader of the crusade. 

Myers — -"A single incident will illustrate the savage 
spirit of the crusaders. Upon the capture of a certain 
town, named Beziers, a Catholic officer asked one of the 
accompanying abbots how the soldiers should distinguish 
the heretics from the true believers. 'Kill them all,' was 
the reply ; 'the Lord will know his own.' " 



140 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

C online lit — Not only do Catholic writers reject the 
stor}^, but all unprejudiced historians deny it. C?esarius 
of Heisterbach invented it, together with a thousand other 
fables. His inventive genius seems to have made him 
dear to Mr. Myers. Wonder questions, why? 

Myers — "The Albigensian heresy was almost extir- 
pated by the cruelties of the Inquisition, which was now 
set up in the country." 

Comment — The author seems to be opposed to every 
effort to suppress impiety and sensuality by force. We 
would ask him what method he would recommend for 
dealing with a crying evil that is ruinous to true faith, 
a scandal to decency, and an enemy to the existence of 
society ; especially when its votaries will not be persuaded 
or convinced? Force, indeed, should be the last resort 
for the correction of abuses ; but when all peaceful means 
have failed, justice demands that authority forcibly in- 
tervene. 

We will treat of the Inquisition in its proper place. 

Admission of the Third Estate to the Royal Council. — 

Myers — "Before the growing power of the Third Es- 
tate we shall see the Church, the nobility, and the mon- 
archy all go down." 

Comment — Oh, no, it is the Third Estate that will go 
down. When sailors leap from a good ship into the 
waves, it is they, not the ship, that goes down. 

The Abolition of the Order of Templars. — • . 

Myers — "Gain in wealth and power had been ac- 
companied by a loss in virtue and piety. 'All that was 
holy in the Order became sin and shame.' " 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 141 

Comment — Mr. Myers is old and experienced enough 
to know that this sweeping assertion is not true. We 
put it among "the most incredible rumors." 

Myers — "The most incredible rumors of the immoral 
and blasphemous character of the secret rites and cere- 
monies of the society were spread abroad." 

Comment — Now you may expect the perpetration of 
some injustice. Calumniation always precedes confisca- 
tion, and gives a color to it. 

Myers — "All classes sustained Philip in his severe 
measures against the body." 

Comment — Perhaps some persons of all classes sus- 
tained Philip, but not all persons of all classes. Mr. 
Myers calls the royal decree of confiscation robbery, and 
robbery never meets with universal approval. 

France Under the House oe Vaeois. 
General Statement. — 

Bffeets Upon F ranee of the Hundred Years' War. — 
Invasion of Italy by Charles VIII. — 

Formation oe the French Language and the Begin- 
nings oE French Literature. 

The Language. — 
Tlic Troubadours. — 

Myers — " 'The tremendous storm that fell upon Lan- 
guedoc in the crusade against the Albigenses shook off 
the flowers of Provencal verse.' " 

Comment — It was well that "the flowers of Provencal 
verse" were shaken off, and that the Troubadours were 



142 • MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

silenced, for otherwise the indecent songs might have 
perpetuated and propagated the impious and sensual 
heresy. 

The TroiLveurs. — 

Prose Writers. — 

III. Spain. 

Beginning of Spain. — 

Union of Castile and Aragon. — 

The Conquest of Granada. — - ' 

Growth of the Royal Pozver. — • 

The Inquisition. — 

Comment — The following brief account of the Span- 
ish Inquisition from the lucid pen of Dr. Brownson, fully 
explains the character of the institution, and its relation 
to the Church : "The Inquisition was a mixed court, a 
politico-ecclesiastical tribunal, and as . it was to take 
cognizance, among other things, of religious matters, the 
Spanish government could not establish it without the 
papal permission. But it was solicited and conceded, 
not as a tribunal against peaceable and inoffensive heret- 
ics, who appealed only to Scriptures and reason, but, if 
there be any truth in history, for the purpose of ferreting- 
out and bringing to light persons who were secretly 
conspiring against the throne and the altar, plotting in 
secret to overthrow both Church and State by a violent 
and bloody revolution, — persons whom our own laws 
would condemn and punish as criminals ; for were per- 
sons in our own country to conspire against the gov- 
ernment and seek by revolution or bloodshed to destroy 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 143 

even the Catholic Church, they would be answerable to 
our courts of justice.- That the Inquisition was abused, 
and made the instrument of dark and cruel passions, es- 
pecially under the reign of Philip II., I do not deny, but 
a king as absolute as Philip, who could make war on 
the Pope, and lay waste the ecclesiastical states, cannot 
hold the Church responsible for his administration. I 
do not defend, I condemn the cruelties of the tribunal 
of the Inquisition, although I believe there has been much 
falsehood and exaggeration in the case. They were, 
however, great enough, and more than one pope raised 
his voice and interposed his authority against them, au- 
thorized appeals from its judgments to Rome, and even 
established a court of appeals in Spain herself, where its 
judgments, in questions touching religion, could be and 
were frequently reviewed, and set aside. The blame rests 
not with the pope, nor with the Church, but with the 
secular government, and the individual inquisitors, who 
abused the tribunal, and perverted it from its legitimate 
purpose. I shall not undertake to defend these any more 
than I would undertake to defend Judas who betrayed 
our Lord. Even sincere and well-disposed men may 
sometimes do things which are in themselves reprehen- 
sible." 

Myers — "The inquisitors, with their terrible work, 
sanctioned and favored by both Papal and royal power, 
became the instruments of the most incredible tyranny." 

.Comment — The Eighth Commandment declares : 
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." 
A lie is a despicable act that cannot be excused. 

Myers — -"The Inquisition succeeded in suppressing 
freedom of thought." 



10- 



144 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — What is "freedom of thought?" It is the 
freedom to think as you will. Could the Inquisition sup- 
press it? No human institution knows what a man is 
thinking of, nor has power to prevent his thinking as 
he will. The statement is as absurd as the fact is im- 
possible; and is a good illustration of the author's ex- 
travagance. What is said of freedom of thought is 
equally applicable to freedom of conscience. God alone 
has power to compel the conscience, and he will not. 
Thought and conscience are always and necessarily free. 

Myers — "Yet in all this Queen Isabella sincerely be- 
lieved that she was rendering God good service." 

Comment — No cruelties were committed by the In- 
quisition in the reign of Queen Isabella. 

Myers — ■" 'In the love of Christ and His Maid- 
Mother,' she says, 'I have caused great misery.' " 

Comment — And so has every monarch and every offi- 
cer whose duty obliged him to punish criminals. It is 
not the infliction of punishment that is blamable, but the 
unjust infliction of punishment. 

Myers — "The data for an accurate calculation of the 
number of victims sacrificed by the Inquisition during this 
reign (Ferdinand and Isabella) are not very satisfactory. 
From such as exist, however, Llorente has been led to the 
most frightful results." 

Comment — Llorente was a hired fabricator, and a 
renegade, a free-mason, and a bitter anti-Catholic. When 
Napoleon Bonaparte ursurped the Spanish throne, and 
set his brother Joseph on it, Llorente, who was secretary- 
general of the Inquisition at Madrid, was induced to write 
a book to arouse the indignation of the Spaniards against 



MiS'l'AKES AND MlSS'l'A']'E;MIi;NTS. 145 

the old institutions and the old government of Spain. 
This he did to the king's taste by forgery, trickery, and 
the suppression of facts. He misstated the acts of the 
Inquisition with unconscionable audacity, and then de- 
stroyed the records of which he was the custodian that 
his lies might never be refuted. 

Myers — "Llorente computes that, during the eighteen 
years of Torquemada's ministry, there were no less than 
10,220 burnt," etc. 

Comment — No historian believes it. The Inquisition 
under Torquemada was so lenient that criminals through- 
out Spain desired to be tried by it. 

Cohimbns Given His Commission. — 
Deaths of Ferdinand and Isabella. — 

BiJGINNINGS 01? THi; SrANISH LANGUAGE; AND LlTl^RA- 

TURR. 

The Language. — 

Tlic Poem of the Cid. — 

IV. Gf.rmany. 
Beginnings of the Kingdom of Germany. — 

Germany Under Carolingians. 
The Hiingarians. — 
BsfabJishment of the Feudal System. — 

Germany Under the Saxon Emperors. 
General Statement.^- 
Henry as the Founder of Cities. — 



146 MISTAKES AND MISSTaTEMENT^S. 

Rcnczval of the Roman Biiipirc by Otto the Great. — ■ 
Consequences to Germany of the Revival of the Empire. — 
The German Kingdom and the Holy Roman Umpire. — 
Otto IIJ.— 

Germany Under the Franconian Emperors. 

Burgundy Joined to the Empire. — 

Henry Third and Henry Fourth. — 

Myers — "The government of the Emperor Henry III. 
was one of the strongest and best that Germany ever 
enjoyed. * * * * The Pope was taught to regard the 
Emperor as his superior." 

Comment — For some time it had been the custom for 
the Emperor to nominate the candidate to the Papal 
throne, whom afterwards the- cardinals elected. Pope 
Hilderbrand regarded this as an abuse and forbade it. 
This prohibition precipitated the long contest between 
the Papacy and the German Emperors which resulted in 
the triumph of the Papacy. 

Germany Under the Hohenstaueen Emperors. 

IVelfs and Waiblings. — 

Frederick /._, Barbarossa. — 

Kingdom of Sicily Joined to the German Croivn. — 

Myers — '"In 1265 the Pope gave the Kingdom of 
the Two Sicilies as a fief to Charles I. of Anjou who be- 
headed the rightful heir, the ill-starred boy Conradiw, the 
last of the Hohenstaufen race." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATI^MENTS. 147 

Comment — We would be pleased to learn by what 
new feat of legerdermain the author makes Conradin 
the rightful heir of the Kingdom. Conradin was the 
son of Frederick II. of Germany whom Pope Innocent 
IV. excommunicated for the grossest and most stubborn 
injustices, and whose right to the crown he declared for- 
feited. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had been for 
almost a century joined to the German crown. On the 
excommunication of the Emperor Frederick II. the 
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies reverted to its former con- 
dition, a fief of the Roman See, and Pope Urban IV. be- 
stowed it upon Charles I. of Anjou. Was there any in- 
justice in this act? and if so, where? Our author will 
not maintain that kings cannot forfeit their regal rights 
by tyranny, for George III. forfeited by oppression his 
right to rule the American colonies. Now, George III. 
was an angel in comparison with Frederick II. As Fred- 
erick II. had lost his right, his son Conradin succeeded to 
no right. 

It is true that Charles I. beheaded Conradin, but it is 
false that Conradin was the rightful heir to the throne 
of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The execution of 
Conradin was effected against the earnest and energetic 
appeals of the Pope and Louis IX. of France, for clem- 
ency. 

Consequences of the Hohenstaufen Policy. — 

Cathedral-Bnilding. — 

Myijrs — "A monkish chronicler * * * * says, 'It 
was as if the earth, rousing itself and casting away its 
old robes, clothed itself with the white garment of 
churches.' " 



148 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — The sentiment is very beautiful, and the 
author of it is worthy of respectful treatment. There is 
an insinuation of contempt about the term "monkish" 
that is absent from the term "monastic," and the latter 
is preferred. It is a matter of courtesy and charity and 
should not be neglected. 

Myers — "The Church collected vast sums by the sale 
of indulgences." 

Comment — As we have good reason to suppose that 
a prominent historian is not wanting in ordinary his- 
torical knowledge, we find it impossible to exonerate the 
author from the odium of a lie. He stands convicted, be- 
fore the eyes of all Catholfcs, of perfidy to truth, and 
treason to education, by scandalizing children who confide 
in his statements, and who, wanting authorities for their 
refutation, believe them. 

The Church grants indulgences on the fulfillment of 
specified conditions, and one of these conditions some- 
times has been, alms-giving. The poor man gave a few 
pence or a day's work; the merchant contributed a block 
of marble, and the nobleman a statue or window, while 
the king gave an altar. Thus were the cathedrals built. 
All gave according to their means, no one gave exces- 
sively, none gave involuntarily, none were coerced into 
giving, and all shared equally in the spiritual blessing, 
the indulgence. There is no more taint of sale in this 
than if the condition had been to relieve the poverty of 
the poor, or recite the rosary. 

The sale of indulgences is simony, a great sin, and 
severely punished by the Church. 

Individuals may have trafficked in indulgences, but 
the sins of lawless individuals are not the sins of the 
Church. Did you possess a richly indulgenced crucifix, 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 149 

and by reason of the indulgence sell it for a great price, 
you would be guilty of simony ; but you would not -dream 
of holding the Church blamable for your own personal 
sin, committed in violation of her commandment. 

Germany During the Interregnum. 
The Seven Electors. — 
Sale of the Imperial Crozvii. — 
Towns and Free Imperial Cities. — 

Germany Under Different Houses. 

Charaeter of the Period. — 

Myers^" 'Rome,' said King Rudolf, 'is like the 
lion's den in the fable — one may see the footsteps of 
many who have gone there, but of none who have come 
back.' " 

Comment — Charlemagne's returning footsteps were 
certainly not invisible ; nor his alone. Poor Rudolf was 
no student of history. If, however, he meant that of 
those who fought against the Church, none prospered, 
he was right. 

Austria Becomes a Possession of the Hapsburgs. — 

The Siviss League and the Dukes of Austria. — 

The Golden Bidl. — 

The Hussites. — 

Myers — "The doctrines of the reformer were con- 
demned by the Council, and Huss himself was sentenced 



150 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

to the flames. The following year Jerome of Prague, 
another reformer, was likewise burned at the stake by 
order of the same body." 

Comment — Neither Huss nor Jerome of Prague was 
executed by order of the Council. The Council tried 
them, and found them guilty of heresy, stubborn and in- 
tractable. After reason, persuasion, and exhortation had 
failed to induce Huss to abjure his heresy, he was de- 
graded (for he was a priest), by order of the Council, 
and delivered to the secular power. The words of the 
Council were : "Since Holy Church has nothing more 
to perform in the case of John Huss, this Holy Synod 
of Constance decrees that he be delivered to the secular 
judgment and to the secular power." The Council 
begged the Emperor to be merciful, and recommended 
that the penalty be imprisonment instead of death ; but 
Sigismund who saw the devastation wrought in Bo- 
hemia by the cruel fanatic, w^ould make no concession, 
but executed the penalty to the full. John Huss was 
doubtless one of the ablest, worst, and most dangerous, 
men who have cursed society by their machinations. Five 
hundred years have not removed from Bohemia the in- 
fection of his doctrines and example. 

To call such a turbulent fanatic a reformer would be 
a pardonable joke in an end-man of a colored minstrel 
troupe; but we did not look for it from a serious au- 
thor. 

Myers — "The most infamous part of this affair was 
the imprisonment and harsh treatment of Huss before his 
conviction ; for this was in direct violation of the safe- 
conduct which the Emperor Sigismund had given him." 

Comment^— l^Q Catholic who reads the history of this 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 151 

affair and knows the circumstances, could wish that Huss 
had enjoyed greater hberty ; and as for the severity he suf- 
fered, that he brought upon himself. He violated the 
conditions of the safe-conduct. Huss was an excom- 
municated man, an excommunicated priest, for whom no 
public sacerdotal function was lawful; yet on his jour- 
ney he preached, celebrated Mass, defied the Pope, and 
published his anarchial views on government ; and this 
too, in a Catholic country where no other faith or worship 
was known. Even a prisoner must sometimes be re- 
strained. Now, does Mr. Myers not know these facts, 
or does he knowingly disregard them ? He will have few 
readers to applaud his conduct in the treatment of the 
case of John Huss. 

Myers — -"Then began a cruel, desolating war of fif- 
teen years, the final outcome of which was the almost 
total extermination of the radical party among the Huss- 
ites." 

Comment — The man who after reading the full ac- 
count of the Hussite wars, can exonerate blind Ziska, 
the leader of the Hussites, and his fanatical followers, 
and lay the blame for cruelty and devastation to the 
charge of Sigismund and his Catholic soldiers, is more 
worthy a place on the floor than the rostrum. Neither 
is it true that the radical Hussites were almost totally 
exterminated by Sigismund. After Ziska's death, they 
split up into factions, and fought one another. 

We are grieved to find that Ziska was not the only 
blind man who had anything to do with these wars. A 
kindred intellectual obscurity seems to have afflicted even 
the chronicler. 



152 MISTAKE;S and MISSTATUMIiNTS. 

Ge;rmany Under the; House; of Austria. 
The Imperial Crown Becomes Hereditary. — 
Maximilian I. — - 

The Imperial Chamber. — 
The Wars of Maximilian. — 
The Ten Districts. — 
Maximilian s Reign a Transition Age. — 

Beginning of German Literature. 

The Niebelungen Lied. — 

The Minnesingers. — 

Myers — "The Minnesingers were the Troubadours 
of Germany." 

Continent — The author has an extravagant apprecia- 
tion of the Minnesingers, and a very erroneous estimate 
of the Troubadours. The Troubadours of France and 
Northern Italy were destitute of every Christian senti- 
ment ; and their literature, if we except a composition here 
and there, was not free from the taint of heresy and im- 
morality. The literature of the Minnesingers of Ger- 
many was less censurable, and sometimes quite free from 
doctrinal and ethical defects, but altogether unworthy of 
the high encomiums it generally receives. 

V. Russia. 
Beginnings of Russia. — 
Disunion and Civil Wars. — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 153 

The Tartar Conquest. — 

The Rise of Muscovy. — 

Russia Freed From the Mongols. — 

VI. Itaey. 

No National Government. — 

Myers — 'Italy came to the close of the Middle Ages 
without a national or regular government. This is to be 
attributed in large part to that unfortunate rivalry be- 
tween Pope and Emperor which resulted in dividing 
Italy into two hostile camps of Guelph and Ghibelline." 

Comment — The author should have defined the strug- 
gle as an effort on the part of the Emperor to appropriate 
to himself both temporal and spiritual sovereignty ; and 
an effort on the part of the Pope to preserve his spiritual 
dominion free from the embarrassments of secular inter- 
ference. 

Rieni^i, Tribune of Rome. — 

Myers — "He caused himself to be crowned with 
seven crowns, etc. The natural consequences of the 
Tribune's extravagant follies were soon reached. The 
people withdrew from him their support ; the Pope, now 
that it was safe to do so, excommunicated him as a rebel 
and heretic." 

Comment — So the Pope never excommunicates ex- 
cept it is safe to do so ! He always consults his personal 
safety ! We wonder what Mr. Myers has been doing 
during the last fifty years that he should display the sim- 
plicity of a child. Why, history abounds with instances 



154 , MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

in which the Popes seemed to invite persecution and 
death by the boldness of their excommunications. 

The Renaissance. — 

Myers — "With the Renaissance, classical elements 
were blended with Christian ideals, and art became pa- 
ganized. At the same time it was liberalized, and in 
insisting upon beauty as being an end worthy in itself, it 
antagonized the teachings of ascetic Christianity, and. 
helped to lift men into the freedom of the new age. Thus 
teaching the world the joyousness of physical existence, 
the art of the Renaissance was one of the angels that 
led man out of the dungeon in which monasticism had 
immured him." 

Comment — When Mr. Myers stands before Almighty 
God for judgment, on the Last Day, Satan's most damn- 
ing indictment against him may be this very paragraph, 
in which he praises the paganizing of Christianity; in- 
culcates idolatry by "insisting upon (created) beauty as 
being an end worthy in itself;" declares antagonism to 
ascetic Christianity (which is another name for volun- 
tary penance) , is the way to freedom ; makes physical 
pleasure a thing to be loved and sought for its own 
sake ; and denounces Christian discipline as slavery. 

No strictures of ours need be added to his self-con- 
demnation to confirm his degradation or augment his 
confusion. He stands before the Christian world a self- 
convicted Epicurean, of the earth, earthly; whose glory 
is in his shame. The Renaissance to which his love is 
wedded, is condemned in his praise; and was truly an 
angel, but an angel, not of light, but of darkness :• and 
the Reformation, of which he says the Renaissance was 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 155 

the herald and the spirit, is proven in its origin, a thing 
of evil. 

Savonarola. — 

Myers — "Savonarola was at once Roman censor and 
Hebrew prophet." 

Comment — Savonarola was not a prophet. 

Myers — "Such a preacher of righteousness the world 
had not seen since the days of Elijah." 

Comment — Mr. Myers is no doubt an excellent judge 
of preachers. In what way Savonarola surpassed Christ 
and the Apostles we are not informed. 

Myers — "He denounced the Medici as the enslavers 
and corrupters of Florence." 

Coininent — We thought that the Medici by their pat- 
ronage of the Renaissance had a warm place in the heart 
of the professor. Some of them certainly put in practice 
his doctrines : They "paganized art ;" they insisted 
"upon beauty as being an end worthy in itself;" they 
"antagonized the teachings of ascetic Christianity;" they 
"taught the world the joyousness of physical existence," 
etc., etc. Which doctrines realized in practice would 
corrupt not only Florence, but the whole world. But 
by what right, or with what consistency, can the pro- 
fessor applaud Savonarola or condemn the Medici? 

Myers — "He hurled denunciations against the pro- 
fligacy of the monks." 

Comment — He did not; but he hurled denunciations 
against such monks as were profligate. 

Myers — "He prophesied the wrath of God * * * * 
on account of the degeneracy of the Church." 



156 MISTAKEvS AND MISS'l'A'rEMElSrTS. 

Comment — Not at all. He predicted the wrath of 
God on account of the degeneracy of some Christians. 

Myers — "The activity of his Florentine enemies, and 
the machinations of the Pope, the detestable Alexander 
VI., brought about the reformer's downfall." 

Comment — Pope Alexander excommunicated him as 
he deserved, for he was a dangerous agitator and stub- 
bornly disobedient. Still, the Pope treated him with 
paternal kindness, and wrote to him that, "In spite of 
facts we begin to believe that you have not spoken in 
malice, but rather in simplicity;" and concluded with a 
promise that if the friar would abstain from preaching, 
and come to Rome, he would annul the censures pro- 
nounced against him. To this letter Savonarola replied, 
demanding to be judged at Florence. There, in the city 
of his friends and enemies, he was tried and executed. 
Had he come to Rome, doubtless his life would have 
been spared. . 

Myers — "The detestable Alexander VI. brought 
about the reformer's downfall, and he was condemned to 
death, executed, and his body burned." 

Comment — Mr. Myers cannot maintain his position 
for a minute. On the contrary, the Pope interfered to 
save the agitator, 

Mr. Myers calls Alexander detestable, not because he 
has discovered any detestable act done by him as Pope, 
but because he loves to repeat the sayings of others. 
Many hard things have been told against Alexander VI., 
but nothing reprehensible can be charged against his 
official acts or his private character after his elevation 
to the supreme pontificate. Before his ordinatiop he 
was a soldier, and his military life had not been free 



MISTAKES AND MISS'rATi;MENTS. 157 

from serious faults ; but his irregularities ceased on his 
elevation to the papal dignity. However, being a Span- 
iard, he was opposed by the Italian faction ; and having 
reduced the turbulent Italian nobles to submission, he 
was bitterly attacked by them in satires and lampoons. 
These are the evidences Mr. Myers has been taking, and 
by them he has formed his judgment. 

Myers — "Savonarola may be regarded as the last 
great mediaeval forerunner of the reformers of the six- 
teenth century." 

Comment — He certainly did not resemble them in 
his profession of faith, for he was a Catholic in life 
and at death ; but he was an agitator, a declaimer, a 
fanatic, and certainly was very disobedient. 

VII. The Northern Countries. 
The Union of Calmar. — 



Part II. 
MODERN HISTORY. 

Introduction. 
Beginning of the Modern Age. — 

Mye;rs — "The intellectual and religious revival was 
greatly promoted by the art of printing." 

Comment — The Protestant Reformation was not a 
revival, for it revived nothing. The author comes nearer 
the truth when, in the next chapter, he calls it a revolu- 
tion. Such it was, a revolution and revolt against the 
old doctrines and discipline of the Church; not a revival 
of doctrines and discipline discarded, forgotten, and neg- 
lected. The Reformation was essentially destructive, 
not constructive. 

The Tivo Periods: Their Chief Characteristics. — 

Myers — " 'Rebellion and heresy' as Buckle observes, 
'are but different forms of the same disregard of tradition, 
the same bold and independent spirit. Both are of the 
nature of a protest made by modern ideas against old 
associations.' " 

Comment — And therefore the heresy of the Reforma- 
tion was not a revival. It protested "against old asso- 
ciations," against the doctrines and sacraments of the old 
Church, and thereby did not revive, but repudiated them. 

What Buckle says has much of truth in it; political 
rebellion and religious heresy are but different forms of 

158 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 159 

the same thing. PoHtical rebeUion or revohition denies 
the divine authority of the state to govern; heresy, or 
rehgioiis revohition, denies the divine authority of the 
Church to teach and govern. They are ahke, and "differ- 
ent forms" of the same spirit. They are Hke the re- 
belHon of the angels, whose motto was, "non serviam ;" 
Hke the disobedience of the rebelHous child who recog- 
nizes no divine authority in his parents. 

Writers may seek to cloak the heinousness of rebel- 
lion with the vesture of liberty, independence, progress, 
enlightenment, etc., but sooner or later the cloven hoof and 
the forked tail will accidentally protrude beneath the 
gilded robes, and reveal the angel of darkness in the 
garments of light. 

"Beware," young readers, "of false prophets who 
come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they 
are ravening wolves." Religious and political reformers 
who declaim loudly about liberty, progress, and en- 
lightenment, are the greatest deceivers. They are false 
prophets. 

There is, of course, lawful rebellion against tyranny. 
The tyrant may forfeit his right to govern : then resist- 
ing his power is not resisting the authority of God. How- 
ever, justifiable revolution is not the rule, but the ex- 
ception, in modern times. 

Myers — "Geographical discoveries, widening and lib- 
eralizing men's thoughts, helped on greatly the mental 
and religious revolution of the times." 

Comment — A liberal mind is a broad and Catholic 
mind; that is, it is a mind that possesses Catholic or 
universal truth. On the contrary, a Protestant mind is 
a mind that protests and denies, and is necessarily nar- 



11— 



160 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

row and illiberal. Therefore, whatever tended to liberal- 
ize the mind, tended to obstruct "the religious revolution 
of the times." However, the mind is not, strictly speak- 
ing broadened by the sight of vast oceans, or liberalized 
by the view of many islands. The heavens above us 
are a thousand, thousand times vaster than the Pacific, 
yet astronomers are often narrow, prejudiced, men. Mr. 
Myers is painfully ignorant of the subject he would eluci- 
date. 

Discovery of the Nezv World by Cohimhus. — 

Myers — "The sphericity of the earth was a doctrine 
held by many at this time; but it was contrary to preva- 
lent theological views, and so it was not safe for one to 
publish too openly one's belief in the notion." 

Comment — Did Mr. Myers ever hear of anyone fear- 
ing to publish his views on the earth's shape? Did he 
ever hear of anyone who suffered persecution for his 
geographical opinions? Not one. The sphericity of the 
earth had long been taught as a scientific doctrine in the 
Papal College at Rome. Indeed, St. Thomas Aquinas, 
in his Summa Theologica, taught the doctrine about 
the middle of the thirteenth century. 

Myers — "It was not safe for one to publish too open- 
ly one's belief in the notion." 

Comment — On former occasions the professor gave 
us specimens of his knowledge of "metaphysical sub- 
tleties ;" now he regales us with an illustration of his un- 
derstanding of psychological subtleties. Some geograph- 
ers, he says, had a "belief in the notion" of the sphericity 
of the earth. _ Now, we can understand how geographers, 
like other men, could have beliefs and notions ; but how 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 161 

they could have a "behef in a notion" surpasses our 
comprehension. If a man has a notion, he must know 
that he has it; and if he knows that he has it, he does 
not beheve that he has it, and hence has not behef in 
it. We have a notion that Mr. Myers studied meta- 
physics, psychology, and history, in the same school. 

The Voyage of Vasco da Gauia. — 

The Voyage Around the Globe by Magellan. — 

Myers — '"Grants of unclaimed pagan lands were 
made on the principle at this time maintained by the 
Popes that the sovereignty of the world, and pre-eminent- 
ly that part of it occupied by pagans, had been given to 
them, and that they might bestow it upon whomsoever 
they would." 

Comment — Mr. Myers must think that his readers are 
a pack of fools. No Pope ever maintained such a prin- 
ciple as the author attributes to them. Pope Alexander 
simply exercised that right of arbitration which all 
Christendom readily conceded to him. 

Myers — '"Sooner or later, of course, disputes be- 
tween Spain and Portugal were bound to arise respect- 
ing the title to land discovered by Spanish navigators 
sailing westward, and also reached by Portuguese ships 
sailing to the East." 

Comment — Mr. Myers would perhaps have recom- 
mended that the matter be not arbitrated, but that Spain 
and Portugal settle their disputes in battle. Pope Alex- 
ander thought otherwise. His decision did not obviate 
all possible disagreement, nor is that result expected 
of a court of arbitration. However, the dispute about 
the Spice Islands led to no evil results. 



162 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Results of Magellan's Voyage. — 

Myers — "Magellan's voyage revolutionized whole 
systems of thought and belief." 

Comment — It did not revolutionize religious belief. 
Religious belief, or faith, has for its object divine reve- 
lation, and depends not at all on "the shape of the earth," 
or "its place in the universe." 

Myers — "Mediaeval theology had either contributed 
to or shared in the popular misconceptions respecting the 
relation of the earth to the sun and the stars." 

Comment — All which means nothing more than that 
theologians are men, and not God, and therefore that they 
did not know the truths brought to light by astrono- 
mers and geographers prior to their discovery. What 
admirable simplicity the author possesses ! 

Myers — "The new geographical knowledge * * * * 
tended to discredit ecclesiastical authority where * * * * 
it had assumed the character of a censorship over the 
opinions and beliefs of men in matters purely scientific." 

Comment — Catholics know what is the infallible au- 
thority in the Church, and therefore should not be sur- 
prised to find the other ecclesiastical authorities fallible. 

T'he Conquest of Mexico. 

The Conquest of Peru. — 

Spanish Colonization in the Nezv World. — 

Myers — "Having thus hurriedly examined one source 
of Spanish greatness and reputation, it will be one of our 
aims in a following chapter to give some idea of the 
way in which this power, and influence, and prestige, 



mistake;s and misstati^ments. 168 

were used by the sovereigns of Spain in the maintenance 
of ecclesiastical and civil despotism." 

Comment — All history proves that selfish monarchs 
have ever been bent oh weakening the influence of the 
Church, and arrogating to themselves ecclesiastical 
powers. Our author says that the Spanish monarchs 
were an exception to this rule, and not only did they 
leave the Church free in her works of charity and re- 
ligion, but even strove to enhance the Church's powers 
abnormally. It is a bold statement, and doubtless a 
rash one; and we will watch the author's attempt to 
prove it, with keen interest. 



THIRD PERIOD. 

The Era of the Protestant Reformation. 

CHAPTER I. 

Thk Be;ginnings oi? the Reformation Under Luther. 

Introductory. — 

Myers — "Nicholas Copernicus had cjuite fully ma- 
tured his heliocentric theory of the universe by the year 
1507, but fearing the charge of heresy, he did not pub- 
lish the great work embodying his views until thirty-six 
years later." 

Comment — Copernicus may have matured his theory 
by the year 1507, but he did not complete the compo- 
sition of his book before the year 1530. Soon after, he 
published his theory, and dedicated the work to Pope 
Paul III. As to the opposition which the new theory 
encountered, the Edinburgh Review for October, 1883, 
had this to say : "Beckmann has conclusively shown 
that in the sixteenth century, no serious theological ob- 
jections were made to the Copernican system save from 
the Protestant side. '^ * * * Luther pronounced it con- 
trary to Holy Writ, and stigmatized its chief advocate 
as 'a, fool who thought to turn the whole art of astronomy 
upside down,' * * * * and Melancthon went so far as 
to desire the suppression by the secular power of such 
mischievous doctrines." 

Myers — "The sixteenth century had but fairly opened 
when Luther discovered the New World of the Spirit." 

X64 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 165 

Comment — We have always contended that the 
Reformation was not a progressive, but a retrograde 
movement — essentially a protest, a denial, a revolt — and 
the author has admitted as much, and will admit more 
before he concludes. But now he tells us that its es- 
sence was discovery, that Luther made many and sig- 
nificant discoveries, and, wonderful to relate! discovered 
even "the New World of the Spirit," itself; but what 
that may be, we are not informed. ]\'Iankind for cen- 
turies had thought that Christ our Lord, descending 
from on high, had revealed the truth, and established 
the true Church to announce it ; but Mr. ]\Iyers says 
it was not so, but that "Luther discovered the New World 
of the Spirit." It seems that the historian turned preacher 
has now got himself well into the pulpit, and we may 
expect some queer antics and numerous somersaults be- 
fore he tumbles to "terra firma." 

The Reformation Deftned. — 

Myers — "The Reformation in its essential charac- 
teristics was a protest against the formalism and abuses, 
and a revolt against the authority, of the Roman Catholic 
Church." 

Comment — Before the author, or preacher, can de- 
fine the Reformation as a protest against abuses, he 
must prove that the Church had no authority to teach 
and govern; for if Christ commissioned his Church, it 
goes without proving, that she could not commit abuses. 
For the present then we will alter the definition thus: 
The Reformation in its essential characteristics was a 
protest and a revolt against the Catholic Church. A very 
good definition, indeed. It was a protest and a revolt 



166 MISTAKliS AND MISSTATI^MENTS. 

against authority teaching doctrine, sacraments, cere- 
monies, and all. 

Myers — "It was a renascence of primitive Christian- 
ity, and bore the same relation to mediaeval Christianity 
that the classical revival bore to mediaeval Scholasti- 
cism." 

Comment — Mediaeval Scholasticism was at least 
Christian, and the classical revival was certainly pagan ; 
yet the preacher says that the relation of the latter to 
the former, that is, of paganism to Christianity, was the 
same relation that the Reformation bore to Catholicity 
in the Middle Ages; and this is his "primitive Chris- 
tianity," and the "New World of the Spirit," discovered 
by Luther. This is somersault No. 1. 

Mye;rs — "It was an insurrection against Papal and 
priestly authority * * * * and a transfer of their al- 
legiance from the Church to the Bible." 

Comment — We do not think that the preacher is .quite 
so simple as his last statement makes him appear. We 
think that he knows full well that the Reformers did 
not transfer their allegiance to the Bible. It is their 
pivotal doctrine that the Bible is to be interpreted by 
private , j'udgment, each one for himself. Now, the au- 
thority of an interpretation never exceeds the authority 
of .the interpreter. Therefore, the Reformers transferred 
not allegiance from the Church to the Bible, but from 
the Church to themselves ; which means, that they refused 
allegiance altogether. 

This is somersault No. 2. 

Extent of Rome's Spiritnal Authority at the Opening of 
the Si.rteenth Century. — 
Myurs — "There had been some, like the Albigenses 



MISTAKIJS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 167 

in the south of France, the Wickliffites in England, and 
the Hussites in Bohemia so hardy as to deny the supreme 
and infallible authority of the Bishops of Rome in all 
matters touching religion. All murmurs and dissent had 
been suppressed by the sword and the fagot." 

Comment — The Patarins, Cathares, or Albigenses, 
abandoned themselves to the grossest sensual indulgences, 
and practiced such abominations, that the Church in or- 
der to save Christian morals, and prevent the dissolution 
of society, vi^as obliged to proclaim a crusade against 
them, and to call upon the secular authority to extermi- 
nate them. The Wickliffites and Hussites taught doc- 
trines subversive of social order; and the preacher who 
will condemn the Church's conduct toward them, or un- 
dertake their defense, proves thereby that Christian civili- 
zation to his mind is a thing of insignificant value. None 
of these heretics were persecuted for their religious con- 
victions. 

Causes of the Reformation. — 

Myers — "The causes which brought about the Refor- 
mation were many. Among others may be mentioned a 
great mental awakening." 

Comment — As the great philosophers and theologians 
since the Reformation have in no instance been Protest- 
ants, we may reject the author's first cause. 

Myers — "The Humanists either fell into religious 
indifference and skepticism, or, restating their creeds, 
which they found in conflict with the new learning, 
reached worthier and higher beliefs." 

Comment — The preacher thinks that the Reformers 
"reached worthier and higher beliefs" by "restating their 



168 MISTAKES AND misstati;me;nts. 

creeds," that is, by reforming them into harmony with 
the new pagan learning; that is, they paganized their 
Christian creeds. 

This is somersault No. 3. 

Myers — "We see the same thing going on to-day. 
The rapid advance of science is creating an apparent con- 
flict between knowledge and belief." 

Comment — Is the "apparent conflict" real or illusory? 
If real, the faith is false, for God is the author of both 
revelation and science. But if the faith be true, the 
apparent conflict between it and true science, cannot be 
real. 

Myers — "The result is either the flinging aside of all 
creeds, or the modification of them so as to bring faith 
into harmony with present knowledge." 

Comment — This preacher has no conception of Chris- 
tian faith; for if he believed that the object of faith was 
the revelation of God, and that he possessed that faith, 
could he talk so glibly about the rejection or modification 
of faith as the only alternative? It were impossible. 
Our nimble so-called Christian professors who stand 
ever ready to recast their creeds at sight of a new germ 
theory or nebular hypothesis, are, in all but the veneer, 
downright infidels. 

He who has Christian faith has no business in the 
recasting laboratories of heresy. Let him but perfect 
his knowledge, and it will fall of itself into harmony 
with God's revelation. 

Myers — "The Humanists of Italy threw aside all be- 
liefs, while the Luthers and Colets and Mores and Eras- 
muses and jMelancthons of the more serious North re- 
formed and thus preserved their creeds," 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEME;NTS. 169 

Comment — Indeed ! We did not know that. We 
have read that Luther and Melancthon were reHgious 
acrobats, not second even to the present occupant of the 
pulpit, but we always thought that Colet and Erasmus 
lived and died Catholics : and as for Thomas More, he 
was beheaded because he would not "reform" his creed ; 
and was beatified by Pope Leo XIIL 

Myers — "Much that was held in mediaeval belief was 
unreasonable, and everything unreasonable must give way 
before awakening reason." 

Comment — If Mr. Myers could distinguish between 
divine faith and human opinion, he would save himself 
many awkward tumbles. 

Myers — "A second cause of the Reformation was the 
open and shameless profligacy of the clergy and monastic 
orders." 

Comment — The clergy of the Catholic Church have 
always been morally superior to the laity, and as a body 
have never scandalized, but always edified, them. The 
unworthy priests who have at times disedified the faithful, 
have given occasion indeed, but no just cause, for heresy 
or schism. They who were looking for a pretext to rebel 
against the Church, found it in the worldly conduct of 
some ecclesiastics. For a like reason, many non-Catholics 
whose experience has convinced them that the Catholic 
Church is the Church of Christ, and whose consciences 
urge them to enter the fold, smother the grace that 
impels them, by shutting their eyes to the truth and 
beauty of the Church, and ranting, as does our author, 
at the real or imaginary faults of individual churchmen. 

Myers — "A second cause of the Reformation was the 
open and shameless profligacy of the clergy and monas- 



170 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

tic orders, and the dissolute and rapacious character of 
many of the Popes themselves." 

Comment — Mr. Myers' bigotry renders his unsup- 
ported statement against the Popes, in the judgment of 
Catholics, utterly worthless. We await his proofs. 

Myers — "The Papacy reached its deepest degrada- 
tion in the pontificate of Alexander VI., who seated him- 
self in the Papal chair through the most shameless bri- 
bery." 

Comment — He was unanimously elected, unanimous- 
ly confirmed; which facts seem to disprove the charge of 
bribery. 

Myers— "His conduct was simply execrable." 

Comment — It is no proof of sincerity or ability, to 
call hard names. 

Myers-— "In his efiforts to advance the interests of his 
infamous son Caesar he stopped short of no crime." 

Comment — This is not history, but fiction. We in- 
vite Mr. Myers to attempt to prove his assertion. 

Myers — "The claims of the Popes to the right to in- 
terfere in the internal, governmental affairs of a nation 
* * * * fostered the jealousy and opposition of the tem- 
poral princes." 

Comment — Just claims are never the cause, though 
they may be the occasion, of jealousy and opposition. 
But why did the Popes interfere ? To prevent the tyranny 
of monarchs ; but they claimed no right, nor did they 
exercise power, to interfere with just government. In 
all the author's attacks upon the Popes, he has failed 
to show a single instance in which their influenco was 
not exerted in the interest of justice and liberty. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 171 

Myers — "Printing scattered broadcast over Europe 
the Bible, and, as men began to read the book for them- 
selves, they began to doubt the Scriptural authority for 
many of the doctrines and ceremonies of the Church, such 
as the Veneration of the Virgin, the supplication of 
saints," etc., etc., etc. 

Comment — It is not necessary, nor is it possible, for 
Mr. Myers to give a complete list of the doctrines they 
doubted. They doubted everything that the Bible con- 
tained. And as the Church is not only the interpreter, 
but the custodian and identifier, of the Holy Scriptures ; 
in rejecting her, they rejected the only sufficient reason 
for accepting the Bible at all, and forthwith began to 
doubt that it was the Word of God; began to doubt its 
inspiration, canonicity, integrity, etc. Such is, and must 
ever be, the consequence of rejecting the Church. Every 
Reformer used the Bible as a fiddle, and played on it 
what tune he pleased. 

Myers — "Indulgences, as defined by Roman Catho- 
lic theology, are remissions to penitents, of punishment 
due for sin, upon the performance of some work of mercy 
or piety, or the payment of a sum of money." 

Comment — There is a strong suspicion that Mr. Myers 
himself composed that definition, or at least doctored it. 
He certainly got it from no work of Catholic theology. 
Remissions of temporal punishment are not made on "the 
payment of a sum of money." 

Tetzel and the Preaching of Indulgences. — 

Myers — "The form of these indulgences was as fol- 
lows :— " 



172 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — Mr. Myers is a blind man at midnight 
with this question. He has the form of indulgence 
and the form of absolution from sins inextricably 
tangled, and he seems absolutely incapable of distinguish- 
ing the one from the other. 

Myers — "The form of these indulgences was as fol- 
lows ;****!* * * * do absolve thee, first from all 
ecclesiastical censures, * * ''' * and then from all sins, 
transgressions, and excesses," etc. 

Comment — On the opposite page, Mr. Myers said : 
"It is, and always has been, the theory (doctrine) of the 
Roman Catholic Church that the indulgence remits mere- 
ly temporal penalties." Now he says that this form of 
indulgence includes absolution from "sins, transgres- 
sions, and excesses." Evidently there is a screw loose 
somewhere. We recommend that the voluble author 
study more and write less. 

Myers — "I remit to you all punishment which you 
deserve in purgatory * * * * and I restore you to the 
holy sacraments of the Church," etc. 

Comment — Provided you possess the requisite dispo- 
sitions, and have complied with the required conditions. 

Myers — "When you die, the gates of punishment 
shall be shut, and the gates of the paradise of delight 
shall be opened ; and if you shall not die at present, this 
grace shall remain in full force when you are at the 
point of death." 

Comment — Provided you be in the state of sanctifying 
grace. 

Martin Luther. — 

Myers — "Years of study, reflection, and mental con- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 173 

flict within the cloister, had awakened in Luther's mind 
doubts and questionings as to many of the doctrines of 
the Church." 

Comment — It was not study and reflection that ruined 
Luther, but pride and passion. Luther was angered by 
the selection of Tetzel, rather than himself, to preach 
the indulgences. He sought a pretext to oppose Tetzel, 
and engaged in public controversy against his methods 
with wonderful ardor; but enthusiasm and passion bore 
him onward beyond his calculations, and he had not the 
humility to acknowleclge his extravagances and retrace 
his steps. 

Myers — "His last lingering doubt respecting the mat- 
ter of ecclesiastical penances and indulgences appears 
to have been removed while, during an official visit to 
Rome in 1510, he was penitentially ascending on his 
knees the sacred stairs of the Lateran, when he seemed 
to hear an inner voice declaring, 'The just shall live by 
faith.' " 

Comment — So we are seriously told that Luther's "last 
lingering doubt" was removed in 1510 : no longer can 
he believe Catholic doctrine. Yet on Oct. 15th, 1518, 
at the conference at Augsburg he publicly professed his 
faith in all the doctrines of the Catholic Church ; and 
openly declared that he had never intended to teach any- 
thing offensive to Catholic doctrine, to the Holy Scrip- 
tures, to the authority of the Fathers, or to the decrees 
of the Pope. 

Again, — he broke with the Church, the author says, 
because "he seemed to hear an inner voice declaring, 
'The just shall live by faith.' " But that is Catholic doc- 
trine, and in no wav conflictive with the doctrine of in- 



174 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

dulgences. The error of Protestantism on this point is 
that it teaches, as did Luther, that, "The just shall live 
by faith, alone." It is the appendicitis that kills the liv- 
ing body of truth. 

The Ninety-Pive Theses. — ■ 

Myers — "The form which Church penances had taken 
in the hands of Tetzel and his associates, making sins 
past and prospective an article of merchandise, was so 
opposed to reason and the teachings of the Scriptures, 
that Luther determined to make an appeal to the con- 
science and intelligence of the world." 

Comment — Two pages back the author wrote: "It is, 
and always has been, the theory (doctrine) of the Ro- 
man Catholic Church that the indulgence remits merely 
temporal penalties." Why, then, does he now say that 
Tetzel and his associates made "sins past and prospective 
an article of merchandise?" It is very certain that they 
did no such thing, and no proof has ever been adduced to 
show that they sold either indulgences or sacramental 
absolution. And even if they had, their conduct, being 
in direct violation of ecclesiastical laws, would furnish 
Luther no argument for rejecting the Church. 

The author's accusations seem to us to be not only 
dishonorable, but dishonest. 

Myers — "He drew up ninety-five theses, or articles, 
wherein he fearlessly stated his views respecting in- 
dulgences." 

Comment — These foolish propositions over which so 
much fuss has been made, disclose neither originality 
nor profundity. As to the spirit in which they were 
proposed and defended, Luther's own words declare. 



MlSTAKi;S AND MISSTATEMENTS. 175 

Under date of Trinity Sunday, 1518, he thus wrote to the 
Pope : "The propositions which I put forth, Most Holy 
Father, are in the form of theses, and not of doctrines ; 
of enigmas propounded in an enigmatic style." These 
ninety-five puerile and false theses, Mr. Myers distorts 
into "truths boldly and eloquently proclaimed." We can 
understand Luther's excitement and intemperance, for 
he was a party to a hot discussion; but Mr. Myers' en- 
thusiasm over a number of absurd and wholly indefensible 
articles which he himself does not believe, seems to in- 
dicate some mental abnormality. 

Burning of the Papal Bull. — 

Tiie Diet of JVoniis. — ■ 

The- Peasants' War. — ■ 

Myers — "The clergy instead of exerting themselves 
to render more tolerable the lot of the poor- peasants, 
only made it harder by the tithes they exacted." 

Comment — The clergy living among the people, have 
always and everywhere been their friends, and have 
labored for their temporal and spiritual welfare. It 
was so in Germany, and it is so in America. We would 
be surprised to learn that there is a priest in Cincin- 
nati who has done less to lighten the burden of the 
poor than this very eloquent philanthropist, himself. 

Myers — "The Reformers' teachings were held by their 
enemies to be the whole cause of the ferment — another 
illustration of how easy it is for partisans to confuse 
occasion with cause." 

Comment — They did not confuse occasion with cause. 
The peasants themselves blamed Luther for their calam- 



176 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

ity, for it was the punishment of trying to realize Luther's 
doctrine of Christian liberty, another name for license. 
To their minds both prelates and princes were enemies 
of Gospel truth; and when Thomas Miinzer, leader of 
the Anabaptists, began to destroy altars and tear down 
churches, proclaiming the natural equality of all men, 
a communit}^ of goods, the abolition of every sort of 
authority, and the establishment of a new kingdom of 
God, composed solely of the just; the civil authorities 
made war upon him, and overthrew him. Luther well 
knew whose doctrine had caused the war and by whose 
command the peasants had been slaughtered, and said : 
"I, Martin Luther, have shed the blood of the rebellious 
peasants ; for I have commanded them to be killed. Their 
blood is upon my head ; but I put it upon the Lord God, 
by whose command I spoke." 

It is almost incredible that our author could have 
overlooked these testimonies which so completely upset 
his theory. 

The Reformers arc called Protestants. — 
Death and Character of Litther. — 

Myers — "Beyond all controversy, he was the greatest 
man of the sixteenth century." 

Comment — That depends on what constitutes great- 
ness. He was, indeed, "rough, boisterous, stormy, and 
altogether warlike," but these qualities are often the 
accompaniment of inferior ability. He did not by rugged 
strength draw half of Europe with him. He found Eu- 
rope inflammable, and he applied the match that ignited 
it. Luther has been greatly overestimated. 

As to his character, James Balmes has the following 
criticism : "Is it possible to carry raving further than 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 177 

to pretend to have been taught by the devil, to boast 
of It, and to found new doctrines on so powerful an au- 
thority? Yet this was the raving of Luther himself 
the founder of Protestantism, who has left us in his 
works the evidence of his interview with Satan. Whether 
the apparition was real, or produced by the dreams of 
a nig-lit agitated by fever, it is impossible to carry fanatic- 
ism further than to boast of having had such a master 
Uither tells us himself that he had many colloquies with 
the devil; but what above all is worthy of attention 
IS, the visions in which, as he relates in the most serious 
manner, Satan, by his arguments, compelled him to 
proscribe private masses." 

Myers— "He gave an impulse to free thought." 
Commcnt-^t challenge Mr. Myers to adduce one 
sentence ever written or spoken by Martin Luther by 
which he recognized the right of others to dissent from 
his views. He was the most intolerant of men, as Mr 
Myers surely must be well aware. 

Causes that Checked the Progress of the Reformation.- 
MYERS-"It seemed as if the revolt from Rome was 
destmed to become universal, and the old ecclesiastical 
empire to be completely broken up." 

Comment~Y^s, it seemed so to the infidel ; but it could 
not be so, for Christ had founded his Church upon a 
rock, and had promised that the gates of hell should 
not prevail against it. The Church has experienced and 
survived many trying ordeals, and her triumphs and her 
longevity attest her divine life. No human institution 
could have sustained the attacks that have been made 
upon her. 



178 MiSTAKDg AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Divisions among the Protestants. — 

Myers — "John Calvin, " * * * forced to flee from 
France, '■' * * * found a refuge in Geneva, of which 
city he became finally a sort of Protestant pope." 

Comment — Calvin was convicted of the execrable sin 
of sodomy, and sentenced to be burned; but at the re- 
quest of the Catholic bishop of the diocese, the sentence 
was commuted : he was branded with the "fleur-de-lis," 
arid driven from the country. 

Myers — "The so-called five points of Calvinism are 
these : Unconditional election," etc. 

Comment — Unconditional election means that God has 
unconditionally predestined some men to be saved, and 
some to be lost. If you are predestined to hell, all your 
efforts to escape it will prove futile — you will, and must 
be, damned. In other words, the doctrine is this : They 
whom God ordains to everlasting death, he ordains to 
sin, that they may be damned justly. 

Myers — "The great Protestant communions finally 
broke up into a large number of denominations, or 
churches, each holding to some minor point of doctrine, 
or adhering to some form of worship disregarded by 
the others, yet all agreeing in the central doctrine of 
the Reformation, 'Justification by Faith.' " 

Comment — "Justification by faith" is not a doctrine of 
the Reformation ; it is Catholic doctrine. The Protestant 
doctrine is : "Justification by faith, alone." The Reforma- 
tion added the "alone," thereby asserting the sufficiency 
of faith and the inutility or innecessity of hope and 
charity, and setting the doctrine at variance with Chris- 
tianity and reason. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 179 

Myers — "Now the contentions between these different 
sects were sharp and bitter. The Hberal-minded reformer 
had occasion to lament," etc. 

Comment — There is no such thing as a Hberal-minded 
reformer of Christianity. Liberal-mindedness is not made 
manifest by marring God's perfect work. 

Myers — "The Hberal-minded reformer had occasion 
to lament the same state of things as that which troubled 
the Apostle Paul in the early days of Christianity. One 
said, I am of Luther; another said, I am of Calvin; and 
another said, I am of Zwingle." . 

Comment — If our author were equally blind to ma- 
terial things, he could not distinguish between a snow-ball 
and a cannon-ball. 

The Reformers did not lament the same state of 
things that troubled the Apostles. The Apostles had 
held and taught the same doctrines; the Reformers, on 
the contrary, were at daggers' points on the most funda- 
mental questions. Among the early Christians expla- 
nation sufficed to remove all differences; but the con- 
tentions among the Protestants, intensified and perpet- 
uated by the contentions of -their leaders, were irremedia- 
ble. 

The Inquisition. — 

Myers — '"This was an ecclesiastical tribunal, the offi- 
cers of which were appointed directly or indirectly by the 
Pope." 

Comment — The Spanish Inquisition was a tribunal 
organized by the State, and was not an institution estab- 
lished by the Church. The laws by which the criminals 



180 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

were tried and punished were Spanish, not ecclesiastical, 
laws. The judges were in part ecclesiastics, but they 
acted as secular judges in the State courts, not in the 
Church courts. 

The Pope approved the establishment of the tribunal, 
but condemned its crimes; just as our government ap- 
proves the founding of banks, but condemns the dis- 
honesty of bankers. Criminal courts are necessary, and 
punishments must sometimes be inflicted, though some 
courts may be unjust and their punishments excessive. 

Myers — "During the latter part of the fifteenth cen- 
tury the Inquisition * * * * was set up in Spain, the 
principal victims of its activity there being the Jews, 
who partly because of their affiliation with the infidel 
Moors, were objects of the intensest popular hatred." 

Comment — The Spanish Inquisition was established to 
curb the insolence and influence, and to discover and frus- 
trate the machinations, of the Jews and Moors who were 
the implacable enemies of Catholic Spain. Not only 
turbulent heresy, but polygamy, seduction, smuggling, 
witchcraft, sorcery, imposture, etc., etc., were punished by 
it. It was a national tribunal. 

Myers — "The entire machinery and mode of pro- 
cedure of the inquisitorial courts were most atrocious." 

Comment — An intemperate and prejudiced mind is 
well nigh incapable of correction or instruction, and the 
author will probably carry his ignorant prejudgments un- 
modified to the grave. 

"The mode of procedure of the inquisitorial courts" 
was the same as that which obtained in the state criminal 
courts of Europe, very much mitigated by Torquemada's 
rules. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 181 

Myers — "Parents were commanded to inform against 
their children, and children against their parents." 

Comment — And so will they be commanded on the 
Last Day ; why should they not now for the preservation 
of morality and Christianity in a whole nation ? 

Myers — "He who knew of heresy anywhere and did 
not reveal it, imperiled his own temporal and eternal in- 
terests." 

Comment — As ]\Ir. Myers has entered into the "New 
World of the Spirit" discovered by Martin Luther, he 
must certainly know what imperils a man's eternal in- 
terests; but as to the danger that threatened his tem- 
poral interests for not revealing to the Spanish In- 
quisitors the hiding place of a heretic,— that depended 
much on the character of the heretic. It was dangerous 
to conceal the covert of a heretic who was a traitor, as 
it is with us; and many of the Spanish infidels in the 
days of the establishment of the Inquisition were enemies, 
and secret plotters, against the government. The Jews 
murdered Christian children, and lent money at exorbi- 
tant rates of interest to nobles, and impoverished them. 
If Mr. Myers imagines that the Spanish Inquisition was 
established to persecute orderly and peaceable heretics, 
the verdancy of his mind must be phenomenal in its in- 
tensity. 

Myers — "The trial of the accused was the veriest 
mockery." 

Comment — Why ? 

Myers— "The name of the person making the charge 
was withheld from him." 



182 MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATe;mENTS. 

Comment — It was not the universal practice even in 
the purely secular courts for the accused to be confronted 
by the witness. 

Myers — "By the torture of the rack * * * * were 
wrung from the accused confession of crime he had never 
thought of committing." 

Comment — The laws of Europe at that time authorized 
the use of the rack for extorting confession of crime just 
as custom in our own day and country authorizes the 
use of the "sweat-box." The professor may, however, 
rest assured that had there been no crime but heresy 
to try, there would have been no torture in Spain. The 
rack was employed to extort confession of treasonable 
plots. 

Myers — "Death by burning was the favorite mode 
of execution, as the temporal flames appropriately em- 
blemized the eternal fire awaiting the heretic." 

Comment — There are two mean tricks, commonly 
practiced by ignoble historians ; mud-throwing and sand- 
throwing. The mud is thrown upon the person whose 
character is to be traduced : the sand is thrown into the 
eyes of the reader that his vision may be obstructed. We 
have before us what strongly resembles a specimen of 
the latter. Heresy did not create the motive for the 
establishment of the Inc[uisition, for prior to the Refor- 
mation there was no heresy in Spain. Treason allied it- 
self with heresy and thus brought heresy before the crim- 
inal courts. The effort, intentional or not, to make it ap- 
pear that all punishments were directed at heresy, as 
heresy, and not as political crime, is the specimen of 
sand-throwing to which we call your attention. 

Myers— "The property of the condemned was usually 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 183 

divided among the inquisitors, the Papal See, and the 
temporal princes." 

Comment — We know of but one name that adequately 
expresses the nature of this misstatement, and it is a 
forceful and uncomplimentary term of three letters. 

In Spain the king nominated the inquisitors who were 
in ecjual number lay and clerical officials ; and dismissed 
them at will. From the King, and not from the Pope, 
they derived their jurisdiction ; and into the King's cof- 
fers, and not into the Pope's, went all the emoluments ac- 
cruing from fines and confiscations. 

Myers — "This terrible instrument of the Inquisition 
was employed by the Roman See with tremendous ef- 
fect." 

Comment — A lying historian is of all liars the most 
abominable, for he lies everywhere and forever. The 
Spanish Inquisition was not employed by the Roman 
See. The Roman Inquisition which was under the Pope's 
control, never shed a drop of blood. 

Mr. Myers should feel that in this article on "The In- 
quisition" he has shamefully slandered the Church, shame- 
fully betrayed the cause of historical truth, and estab- 
lished for himself a lasting reputation for trickery, treach- 
'ery, and general unreliability. 

The Jesuits. — 

Myers — "The Order of Jesuits, or Spciety of Jesus, 
was the next most powerful auxiliary concerned in the 
re-establishment of the tottering throne of the Papal 
See." 

Comment — The throne of the Papal See never totters, 
for it is founded upon the eternal rock. If to Mr. Myers 
it seems to totter, the tottering is all in his eye. 



184 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "The policy of the order was to control 
the affairs of the world in the interest of the Roman See 
by having its members in all social, educational, and gov- 
ernmental positions." 

Comment — Mr. Myers is either a very simple child 
or a very cunning rogue. 

Myers — "As the well disciplined, watchful, and bit- 
ter foes of the Protestant reformers, * * * * they did 
very much to bring about a reaction." 

Comment — Were Mr. Myers capable of distinguishing 
between the Reformers and the Reformation, we would 
tell him that the Jesuits were foes of the latter and friends 
of the former. 

Myers — -"The principles and methods of the Jesuits 
were destined ultimately * * * * to inflict disaster upon 
the cause they represented, and to bring much trouble 
upon the Jesuits themselves." 

Comment — As the author has displayed his ignorance 
of the principles and methods of the Jesuits, his estimate 
of the consequences resulting from the employment of 
those principles and methods, cannot be very valuable. 

General Resnits of the Reformation. — 

Myers — "The parental government which Rome es- 
tablished over the self-willed and barbarous peoples (of 
the North) was a wholesome and needed restraint. But 
now * * /'"' * these nations, grown to mature and 
thoughtful manhood, must be left free to work out each 
its own destiny, without foreign control or interference." 

Comment — The author seems to think that grown 
men and civilized nations have no need of the Church, 
no need of spiritual direction and assistance. It must 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 185 

be then that our Lord estabHshed His Church only for 
babes and barbarians ; instituted the Sacraments for in- 
fants, and revealed His law for cannibals and mud-be- 
daubers, alone. 

Alas, the professor little knows what truth our Lord 
inculcated in the words : "LTnless you become as little 
children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of 
Heaven." There is no such thing as spiritual maturity 
upon earth, either personal or national. 

Myers — "The clergy and monks had hitherto (prior 
to the Reformation) been regarded (by the civil govern- 
ments under whose jurisdiction they lived)* * * * as 
subjects of the Pope's ecclesiastical empire." 

Comment — The European governments prior to the 
Reformation were Catholic, and granted the clergy and 
monks certain civil immunities which, after the apostacy, 
were revoked. 

Myers — "Where there was a revolt from Rome the 
allegiance of these persons to the Pope was annulled." 

Comment — The allegiance of a person to another can 
be annulled only by the latter. The allegiance of the 
clergy and monks to the Pope as their spiritual sover- 
eign was not annulled, and could not be annulled, by 
the civil government under which they lived. But not 
only did the apostate governments revoke all clerical 
privileges, but also persecuted, exiled, or killed the priests. 

Myers — "Even in matters of religious doctrine and 
practice and public worship, the civil power often claimed 
the final authority hitherto claimed by the Pope." 

Comment — And made a mockery of Christianity, as 
we see in England where the Parliament changed the 



186 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

definition of the Holy Eucharist at nearly every session, 
and compelled the subjects under severe penalties to sub- 
scribe it under oath. 

Myers — -"The doctrines of the Reformers did, in- 
deed, spread into the Latin or Romance nations, but in 
all of them they were more or less uprooted by perse- 
cution." 

Comment — By persecution the author means the ac- 
tive measures adopted by the southern governments to 
prevent the bloody contests that everywhere marked 
the introduction of the new ideas. 

Myers — "Thus the entire movement of the Reforma- 
tion may be viewed as another expression and illustra- 
tion of that independent, freedom-loving spirit," etc. 

Comment — Beautiful words, but they cloak a world 
of wickedness and folly. On the same principles that 
the Reformation is justified, all revolt and all disobedience 
can be justified. That "independent and freedom-loving 
spirit" is what the Serpent appealed to in the Garden of 
Eden. 

Myers — "The second most important result of the 
Reformation was the bringing in by it of the principle 
of religious toleration." 

' Comment — The Reformers tolerated those only who 
accepted their doctrines. From first to last they were the 
most intolerant of men. Luther's tirades against the Jews 
were so venomous and merciless, that years after his 
death the mere allusion to his intolerance made the Lu- 
therans hkng their heads in shame. 

Myers — " 'Protestants believed that heretics were still 
to be burned, but speaking against the Pope was declared 
no longer to be heresy.' " 



MiS'fAKES AND MISSTAT^EMENTS. 187 

Comment — It was never heresy to speak against the 
Pope. 

Myers — "Bnt the path upon which the Reformers had 
entered led straight to rehgious toleration." 

Comment — Yes, just as straight as intolerance leads 
to tolerance, and war to peace. This may be clear to the 
author; but it is somewhat obscure to the reader. 

Myers — "Notwithstanding the Protestants did not 
see clearly whither it led." 

Comment — Catholics saw clearly whither their path 
led, and naturally felt indignant toward those who at- 
tempted to block it. But to compel men to enter with 
you a path whose terminus you know not, and to con- 
fiscate their property, or kill them, if they will not, can 
hardly be justified. It is as good an illustration of the 
methods of the Reformers, as it is a bad illustration of 
"toleration." 

Myers — "In deciding for themselves that the Bible 
and not the Church is the ultimate authority in matters 
of faith, the Reformers * * * * made a bold exercise of 
the right of private judgment, and established a principle 
that was bound, through a logical necessity, ultimately 
to result in the broadest religious liberty." 

Comment — The Mormons have established the same 
principle. Does Mr. Myers think that they attain to the 
"broadest religious liberty?" They frequently bring up 
in the penitentiary where we are told religious as well as 
civil liberty is somewhat contracted. 

Myers — "But the times were not yet ripe for the tri- 
umph of so beneficent a principle." 

Comment — Nor did the times ripen sufficiently till the 
French Revolution had wiped away established order. 



188 mtstake;s and misstatemEnI^s. 

On the ruin of the French government the principle tri- 
umphed — for a while. No man can live in society at 
large and carry the principle of private judgment in all 
things into practice. 

Myers — "The mental horizon of men was still too 
narrow, their conception of the relation of State and 
Church too faulty, and their ideas as to the eternal danger 
and criminality of error in religious belief * * * * too 
immature and perverse." 

Comment — But now that Mr. Myers is pushing back 
the curtains of the night, broadening the mental horizon, 
correcting faulty conceptions of the relation of State and 
Church, and maturing the half-ripe ideas as to the 
eternal danger and criminality of heresy into the ma- 
ture and mellow principle that a man has the sovereign 
right to believe something, nothing, or anything, as 
he pleases, and act it out in practical life ;— now that the 
germinal principle has been logically evolved, it may be 
established, as soon as God abdicates his right to judge 
and punish man. 

Myers — A third result of the Reformation was its 
influence upon liberal government. The movement was 
favorable to political liberty." 

Comment — Why, then, was its establishment every- 
where followed by persecution, confiscation, crowded jails, 
executions, and exile? 

Myers — "The Protestant church is democratic in its 
constitution and tendencies." 

Comment — But the Church founded by Christ is not ; 
therefore the intended compliment is a veritable boom- 
erang. 



MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 189 

Myers — "The Protestant church is democratic in its 
constitution and tendencies ; and ecclesiastical democracy 
has fostered political democrac}^" 

Comment — Where, when, which, and with what re- 
sults ? 

Myers — " 'It can be said with, truth,' affirms Fisher, 
'that the Reformation made the free Netherlands ; the 
Reformation made free England, or was an essential agent 
in this work; the Reformation made the free Republic of 
America.' " 

Comment — It is not a whale the Fisher caught : his 
hook is fast in a snag. Now the little boys will all laugh 
at the old angler, for well they know that the Cath- 
olic Magna Charta was and is the palladium of 
English liberties ; and that the first American colony 
to show religious toleration was the Catholic colony of 
Maryland. 

Myers — "Speaking generally, we may say that Prot- 
estantism placed itself on the side of liberty, while Ro- 
man Catholicism became the ally of despotism." 

Comment — The professor is not a professor of gram- 
mar, or he would have known which auxiliary verb to 
use. He should have written : Speaking generally, we 
"can" say, for he has the power to say; not, we "may" 
say, for he "may not" say, has no right to say, what vio- 
lates the truth. 

Myers — "The nations that accepted Protestantism ad- 
vanced rapidly * * * ''^ into political freedom ; while 
those that remained under the ecclesiastical yoke of Rome 
secured for themselves civil and constitutional liberty only 
after Ions: delav." 



190 MiST'AKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — We reply in the language of a prominent 
Catholic convert : "It is time that our historians and pop- 
ular writers should reflect a little on what the}^ are saying, 
when they assert that the Reformation emancipated the 
mind and prepared the way for civil and religious free- 
dom. This has become a sort of cant, and Catholics hear 
it repeated 'so often that some of them almost think that 
it cannot be without some foundation, and therefore that 
there must be something uncatholic in civil and re- 
ligious liberty. It is all ' a mistake, an illusion, or a 
delusion. The principles of the Reformation, as far as 
principles it had, were and are in direct conflict with 
them, and whatever progress either has made has been 
not by it, but in spite of it, by means and influences it 
began its career by repudiating. The man reared in the 
bosom of the Reformation has no conception of real re- 
ligious, civil, or mental liberty till he is converted to the 
Catholic faith, and enters as a freeman into the Catholic 
Church." 

Myers — ''The Reformation was favorable to intel- 
lectual progress. * * * The Reformers in order to reach 
the masses, threw aside the Latin of the Schoolmen, and 
used the language of the people." 

Comment — And thereby brought theology and Chris- 
tian philosophy into contempt. In consequence Protest- 
antism has not produced a single eminent philosopher or 
theologian, and will not, and cannot. 

Myers — "The influence of Tyndale's New Testament 
upon the English language can hardly be overestimated." 

Comment — Our works treating of English literature 
accord Tyndale a very insignificant place. His was an old 
translation worked over. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 191 

Myers — "Luther's Bible almost created the German 
out of a class of dialects." 

Coniincnt — But rather by reason of Luther's sad pre- 
eminence than his literary ability. 

Myers — " 'The Reformation in Germany transferred 
literary activity from the South to the North. Since 
that time the literary achievements of the Catholic side 
have been, in comparison with those of Protestants, in- 
significant.' " 

Comment — There is no current literature to-day com- 
parable in elegance and profundity with the Catholic liter- 
ature of France, Italy, and Spain. After these comes 
Germany and Scotland. England and Holland bring 
up the rear, almost out of sight. 

Myers — "Regarding Europe in general, we find that 
Catholic countries have fettered knowledge by a long in- 
dex of prohibited books." 

Comment — They have fettered obscene, impious, and 
anarchical, knowledge. It seems that the multiplication 
and distribution of this kind of books is what Mr. Myers 
denominates enlightenment and progress. Another author- 
ity once assured Eve that knowledge of this sort would 
open her eyes. The two authorities seem well agreed 
on their principles and method. 

Myers — "The Reformation had a purifying effect up- 
on morals. It abolished, in the countries which embraced 
the new creed, the monasteries." 

Comment — But not because they were immoral, but 
because the abolitionists wanted to confiscate the prop- 
erty. 



13- 



192 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "The monasteries * * * * once the nurser- 
ies of Christian virtues, had now in many cases become 
the hot-beds of Epicurean vices." 

Comment — By the author's eulogy of the Renaissance 
because it "antagonized the teachings of ascetic Chris- 
tianity," "insisted upon beauty as being an end worthy 
in itself," and approved Epicureanism in substance if 
not in name, he has forfeited the right to condemn the 
latter system. 

Myers — "It did away with the celibacy of the clergy 
which had been the occasion of great immorality." 

Comment — That was not the reason. Their preachers 
had not the grace to practice the virtue. 

Myers — ''And then the holy fervor enkindled in many 
souls, also tended to exalt and purify the life, as witness 
the. Puritans of England, the Huguenots of France, and 
the Covenanters of Scotland." 

Comment — How about the descendants of these in 
America? The Rev. Brevard D. Sinclair, pastor of the 
Old South Presbyterian church, Newburyport, Mass., 
had this to say to his congregation, on sins against the 
Sixth Commandment, a few years ago : 

"It makes no difference to God whether your ances- 
tors came over the sea in the Mayflower or in the steerage 
of a Cunarder, nor whether your pedigree can be traced 
to a Puritan or to an assisted emigrant from Cork; but 
one thing is of paramount concern to God — He intends 
to fill this world with righteousness, and he will see to 
it that the people who violate His laws shall perish from 
the earth, and that those who obey His precepts shall 
occupy the place of a disobedient people. If the- Ro- 
manists will obey God * * * * and rehabilitate the 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 193 

crumbling", decaying, rotten wrecks of the New England 
home, State and Church, by obliterating this sin, then they 
will and ought to possess this land." 

And we may add that this is just what they are 
doing. Catholics are rapidly displacing the old Puritan 
stock of New England. 

Myers — "The Reformation, furthermore, has been 
favorable to material progress." 

Comment — The Reformation having turned away 
men's minds from spiritual to material things could have 
been expected to surpass Catholicity in this field of activ- 
ity. But even here Protestant superiority is not evident. 
The great inventions, and commercial and industrial en- 
terprises in Protestant countries, have been generally the 
work of infidels, not Protestants, or if of Protestants, 
Protestants only in name. An eminent man who is a 
devoted Protestant is a "rara avis." 

Myers — "The countries that have remained most 
completely under the yoke of the ecclesiastical dominion 
of Rome, as Spain and Italy, have been marked by a 
strange torpidity of national life, and an almost perfect 
paralysis of individual enterprise." 

Comment — And yet the most prosperous period of the 
national life of both Spain and Italy v/as when they were 
most faithful and loyal to the Church. Infidel govern- 
ments, and anti-Catholic societies, have been the un- 
doing of both. 

Myers — "The Reformation produced what is called 
a Catholic counter-Reformation ; that is a reformation 
within the Roman Church herself. She underwent a 
thorough purification." 



194 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Couiuicnt — The Reformation did effect a puritication 
of the CathoHc membership by draining away many proud, 
vicious, and turbulent spirits. 

When Mr. Myers regains his composure of mind after 
this passionate attack upon the Catholic Church he will 
be able to appreciate the sentiments of the toper who, 
after a night of wild revel, awakes to a full sense of his 
shame and degradation. 



CHAPTER 11. 

The Ascendency oe Spain. 

I. Reign oe the Emperor Charles V. 

Charles' Dominions. — 

Charles and the Reformation. — 

Myers— "Fortunately for the Roman Catholic Church, 
unfortunately for Protestantism, and, we must yet add, 
unfortunately for civilization, the young Emperor placed 
himself at the head of the Catholic party." 

Comment — In the enumeration of fortunate and un- 
fortunate things, the author omitted the misfortune of a 
public school history being composed by a man whose 
mind is so warped by prejudice and narrowed by bigotry 
as to render him incapable of treating a Catholic subject 
without snarling. 

Myers — "Charles, not only during his own reign, em- 
ployed the strength and resources of his empire in up- 
rooting the heresy of the Reformers, but also transmitted 
to his successor upon the Spanish throne his own intol- 
erant and persecuting policy." 

Comment — Of Charles V. Dr. Brownson sa3-s : "He 
was very lukewarm in suppressing the Protestant re- 
bellions in Germany. He made war on Pope Clement 
Vn., and they were his troops who took and sacked 
Rome, and from whom the Eternal City suffered more 
than it had in the early times from the Goths and Van- 
dals. Two years before his death, he resigned his imperial 

195 



196 mistakl;s and misstati^ments. 

office, and retired to a monastery to prepare for the Last 
Judgment. There he often reproached himself for having 
sacrificed to his temporal interests the paramount claims 
of the Church." 

His Tivo CJiicf Bnemies. — 

First War Betzueen Charles and Francis. — 

Second War Between Charles and Francis. — 

Mye;rs — "The Pope claimed and freely exercised the 
power of annulling oaths." 

Comment — If Mr. Myers means anything by this 
statement, it is something very different from what the 
words import. An oath is the calling upon God to wit- 
ness the truth of what one says. To speak of annulling 
an oath is nonsense. Does Mr. Myers mean an oath- 
bound contract? Perhaps so. The Pope neither has, 
nor claims to have, the power of annulling contracts, 
whether oath-bound or not ; but he sometimes decides 
whether a contract or promise attested by an oath, has 
the requisites that make it just and obligatory. Mr. 
Myers' assertion that the Pope was moved by jealousy 
to side with the French King, is the mere guess of an ill- 
informed guesser. 

The Diet of Angshnrg. — 

Tlie Turks. — 

Cliarles' Expedition Against Tunis. — 

Third IVar Between Charles and Francis. — 

Charles' Expeditions Against Ghent and Algiers, — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 197 

I'ourth War Betzvccn Charles and Francis. — 

Disastrous Effects of the Wars. — ■ 

Persecution of the French Protestants by Francis. — 

Myers — "While 'The most Christian King-,' and 'His 
Most CathoHc Brother' had been fighting each other, the 
doctrines of the Reformers had been spreading rapidly 
in all directions and among all classes." 

Conunent — This sounds very sarcastic; and certain 
it is that these sublime titles were entirely unmerited by 
either Charles or Francis. Francis had shocked the pub- 
lic conscience by making common cause with the Turk, 
and Charles had waged war upon the Pope, captured 
and sacked Rome. But if these titles are misapplied, 
not less unfittingly could the title of Christian historian 
be applied to our author. We take our proof from the 
following paragraph. 

Myers — "Francis had already displayed his zeal for 
the old faith by cruel persecutions of his Protestant sub- 
jects." 

Comment — ]\Ir. Myers knows that Francis had no 
Christian zeal ; he knows that "cruel persecutions" are 
not a display of zeal ; he knows that the "old faith" never 
authorized, encouraged, or approved "cruel persecutions ;" 
he knows that veracity which is an essential virtue of the 
Christian character, has been by him grossly violated; 
and therefore he must know that "Christian" cannot be 
one of his distinguishing titles as a historian. 

Myers — "The severest blow (of persecution) fell up- 
on the Vaudois, or Waldenses, the simple, inoffensive, in- 
habitants of a number of hamlets in Piedmont and Prov- 
ence." 



198 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — The Catholic Church is not responsible for 
the misdeeds of King Francis, who was actuated in all 
he did by political rather than religious considerations. 
But as to the severity exercised toward the Waldenses, 
it can be said, that after they desisted from violence to- 
ward the Church, her priests and people, they were left 
in peace, and have remained unmolested to this day in 
the secluded valleys of Piedmont. The Waldenses, like 
all heretical sects, had split up into many fragments, 
some of which had become free-booters, and mountain- 
robbers. Whatever they were at the outset, they de- 
generated into social pests, and like other outlaws, merited 
severe chastisement. 

Charles' Wars With the Protestant German Princes. — 

Myers — "Swift, successive defeats of his armies soon 
forced Charles to give up his undertaking to make all his 
German subjects think alike in matters of religion." 

Comment — We wonder whether this man thinks at 
all ; or is he so occupied with writing that he has no time 
to think? It is a pity that some child did not tell him 
that corhmunion in one faith does not preclude diversity 
of religious opinion, nor compel all "to think alike." For 
example, one Catholic thinks that secular knowledge is 
preferable to secular ignorance, even if Myers' History 
must be used to acquire it ; another Catholic contends 
that secular ignorance is better than secular knowledge 
acquired at some hazard of religious truth. The two 
disputants believe alike in faith, but think unlike in a 
matter of religion. 

The Religious Peace of Augsburg. — 

Myers — "It was arranged and agreed that every 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 199 

prince should be allowed to choose between the Catholic 
religion and the Augsburg Confession * * * * The peo- 
ple, individually had no freedom of choice; ever}^ sub- 
ject must follow his prince, and think and believe as he 
thought and believed." 

Comment — This is not a correct statement of the case. 
Freedom of worship was granted alike to Catholics and 
Protestants, and since princes had the right to determ- 
ine what religion should be practiced in their territory, 
anyone who v/as unwilling to comply with the law in his 
own state, could pass to another. 

Abdication and Death of Charles. — 

Myers— "While the Diet of Augsburg was arranging 
the Religious Peace, the Emperor Charles was enacting 
the part of a second Diocletian." 

Comment— It is not always easy to determine when 
the author is really foolish, and when only playing the 
fool. Not until a monastery is identified with a country- 
seat, and penitential discipline is synonymous with hus- 
bandry, can it be truly said that Charles "enacted the part 
of a second Diocletian." 

Charles was actuated to seek monastic retirement to- 
ward the close of his life, by a priest's remark that deep- 
ly impressed him ; that a monarch should retire from the 
cares of the world a few years before his death, to pre- 
pare for an eternal kingdom. 

Charles' Last Instruction to Philip Respecting the Protest- 
ants. — 
Myers— "Charles made the following reflection : 'How 

foolish I have been to think that I could make all men 



200 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMJSNTS. 

believe alike about religion, when here I cannot make 
even two clocks keep the same time.' " 

Comment — Belief is not "about religion;" it is about 
Revelation, that is, it has Revelation for its object. 

How remarkable is this fact. — Here is a man teaching, 
preaching, criticising, condemning-, and applauding. Cath- 
olicity and Protestantism, and all things appertaining 
thereunto, who does not understand even the very words 
he uses. He tells us that Charles had tried to make 
men believe alike. Now Mr. Myers himself, with all 
his self-confidence, would hardly attempt the impossible 
task. Charles was a Catholic, and had been taught by 
the Church that faith is a supernatural habit, infused 
by God into the soul, giving ability and facility to it to 
elicit acts of undoubting belief in the Revealed Truth. 
Charles was neither foolish nor insane, and therefore 
did not attempt the humanly impossible. The story is 
mythical. 

Myers — "Sterling wrote as follows: 'The year 1558 
is memorable in the history of Spain. In that year was 
decided the question whether she was to join the intel- 
lectual movement of the North or lag behind in the old 
path of mediaeval faith.' " 

Comment — What is faith? A supernatural gift by 
which we believe the Revelation which God has made. 
How many faiths are there ?, St. Paul answers : "One 
Lord, one faith, one baptism." Mediaeval faith is then 
identical with ancient and modern faith ; that is, it is 
the one Christian faith. Now, whether it is better to 
"lag behind in the old path of this faith," or to run ahead 
and away after phantoms, with Sterling, Myers, Bob In- 
gersoll, Mrs. Eddy, and others, we will leave the reader 
to decide, 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 201 

Myers—" 'In that year was decided the question 
whether * * '^ * she (Spain) was to be guided by the 
printing press,' " 

Comment — The printing press is no more a guide than 
a phonograph or a saw-buck, and not so much as a 
donkey. The press talks as it is made to talk, with ab- 
solute indifference to truth and falsehood, morality and 
immorality, genuine and spurious history. We now un- 
derstand how so many clownish speeches were intro- 
duced into Myers' History. The secret is now disclosed ; 
the author has "been guided by the printing press." 

Myers—" 'In that year was decided the question 
whether * * * * she was to be guided by the printing 
press, or to hold fast by her manuscript missals.' " 

Comment — If ]\Ir. Myers ever learns how many his- 
torians, incomparably superior to himself, have used 
manuscript missals, he may awake from his night-mare, 
and shake oft' his bed-fellow, Sterling. 

II. Spain Under Phiijp II. 
Philip's Domains and Rez'enues. — 

Myers — "By his bigoted and tyrannical course in re- 
spect of his Moorish, Jewish, and Protestant subjects, he 
ruined the industries of the most flourishing of the prov- 
inces of Spain, and drove the Netherlands into a desper- 
ate revolt." 

Comment— FhiVip was both a bigot and a tyrant, and 
we have no objection to his being so called, nor have we 
any mission to defend him against just censure; but what 
we do object to is the author's habit of omitting, excus- 
ing, or minimizing the misdeeds of Protestants, Moors 



202 MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATI^ME^NTS. 

and Jews, and exaggerating- the faults of Catholics ; and 
then laying the blame to the charge of the Church. 

Philip's War With France. — 

Philip's Crusade Against the Moors. — 

Myers — "Philip was by nature bigoted, intolerant, 
and despotic." 

Comment — By constant harping on the bigotry, in- 
tolerance, and despotism of Philip, together with fre- 
quent mention of his Catholicity, Mr. Myers might eas- 
ily create in the minds of some readers the impression 
that the Church fostered, or at least tacitly approved 
his severity and cruelty. The same impression might be 
made by the simple statement, without comment, that 
Philip decreed that the Moorish children should receive 
Christian names, and attend Christian schools, and all 
this of course against their will, and the will of their 
parents. Justice requires that explanation be made. Why, 
then, does not. the author say that Catholics as well as 
Protestants opposed Philip's persecutions? Why does 
he not mention the efforts of Cardinal Granvelle, prime- 
minister of the Netherlands, and other prelates, to re- 
strain the King's excesses? Why does he not exonerate 
the Church by saying that Philip's motives were personal, 
and that he sought under pretext of supporting the Cath- 
olic faith, the realization of his dream of universal mon- 
archy? Justice to the Church demands explanation. No, 
not a word. 

Why, too, does not the author explain the real danger 
with which the Moors threatened the Spanish govern- 
ment, and what provocation they gave Philip for sever- 
ity? Justice to Philip demands explanation. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 



203 



The author lacks something:, and we fear that it is 
not space, to set matters right ; from which we infer that 
PhiHp was not the only man bound by the chains of 
bigotry and intolerance. 

Defeat of the Turkish Fleet at Lepanto.— 

Conquest of Portugal. — 

The Death of Philip : Later Events.— 

Myers— "By the expulsion of the Moors, or Moris- 
coes, more than half a million of the most intelligent, skilh 
ful, and industrious inhabitants of the Peninsula were 
driven into exile." 

Comment— The Moriscoes were Islamites, and if what 
the author said under the caption, "The Defects of Islam," 
be true, then the assertion that the Moriscoes of Spain 
were "the most intelligent, skillful and industrious in- 
habitants of the peninsula," must be false. There the 
author told us that "Islam discourages effort and enter- 
prise," "sinks its devotees into the lowest degradation," 
and "bars every avenue of social or individual progress 
. and improvement." 

The decree, by virtue of which the Moriscoes were 
banished, furnishes interesting and instructive reading. 
After reciting the efforts that had been made in vain to 
Christianize them, it thus continues : "Knowing moreover 
from correct and certain intelligence, that they had sent 
to treat at Constantinople with the Turks, and at Morocco 
with the King, Muley Fidon, in order that there might 
be sent into Spain the greatest number of forces pos- 
sible to aid and assist them (they themselves promising 
150,000 men) ; and knowing furthermore that treaties 



204 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

had been attempted by . them with heretics and other 
princes, Spain's enemies ;" therefore their expulsion was 
decreed. This decree can be seen 'in the governmental 
archives at Madrid, and bears date of Dec. 9th, 1609. 



CHAPTER III. 

The Tudors and the English Reformation. 
Introductory. 

The Tudor Period. — 

Myers — "The great event of the period was the Ref- 
ormation." 

Coimneni — Mr. Alyers must use the word "great" in 
the sense of a western farmer who complained of the 
disasters of the past winter. His barn had been burned 
to the ground ; a fine draught horse had crippled himself 
on a barbed-wire fence ; his wife had died suddenly of 
grippe; and he himself, doubled up with rheumatism, 
was barely able to limp around. "Oh," said he, "it was 
a great winter." 

TJic English Reformation First a Revolt and Then a 
Reform. — 

Myers — "All Papal and priestly authority was cast 
off, but without any essential change being made in creed 
or mode of worship." 

Comment — When the author has shown us that a 
church without a head is the same as a church with one ; 
and that a religion without a sacrifice is essentially a 
religion with one ; then we will admit the assertion, and 
that a thing can be and not be at the same time. Until 
then we must beg leave to differ. 

Myers — "Without any essential change being made 
in creed." '. 

205 



206 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — The Primacy and Infallibility of the Pope 
have always been a part of Catholic faith. How could 
these doctrines have been rejected without an "essential 
change being made in creed?" How could the Holy 
Eucharist have been rejected without essential change 
in both creed and worship? 

Myers — "Without any essential change being made 
* =1= * * in mode of worship." 

Comment — We ask this stupendous theological author- 
ity whether there was no "essential change in the mode 
of worship" effected by casting off all priestly authority, 
and regarding the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a mere 
ceremony, and assisting at it accordingly. Surely, the au- 
thor has given us a remarkable book. 

Myers — "So the movement was first a revolt and 
then a reform." 

Comment — Is that so? The author draws conclusions 
as easily as a bar-keeper draws corks ; but he should 
remember that conclusions should be drawn from some- 
thing, and not from nothing, and that hitherto he has 
not said a word to justify the conclusion that the move- 
ment was a reform. It was, however, a revolt, and 
with the revolt, a transformation or deformation. But 
we are not surprised to find Mr. Myers applauding the 
revolt, for rebellion, whether in heaven, paradise, earth, 
. or hell, has its admirers. Every rebel and every outlaw, 
is in the eyes of many, a hero, no matter whether he 
defies directly divine, ecclesiastical, civil, or parental, 
authority: and if we are not much mistaken, Mr. Myers' 
station is not remote from this motley group. This fact 
will come more in evidence as we advance. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 207 

TJic Revival of Learning in Bngland. — 

Myers — "Green declares that 'the awakening of a 
rational Christianity, whether in England or in the 
Teutonic world at large, begins with the Italian studies 
of Colet.' " 

Comment — Does Mr. Green identify Protestantism 
with rational Christianity? Why, then, can no theolo- 
gian be found to successfully defend it? The statement 
proves that he is rightly called Green. May his name 
be ever written with a capital to emphasize the verdancy 
of his judgment. 

Myers — "Erasmus' famous satire entitled the 'Praise 
of Folly' was directed especially against ecclesiastics." 

Comment — Erasmus was unsparing in his castigation 
of the abuses of his times ; but a more saintly character 
than he would have succeeded better. St. Bernard, St. 
Charles Borromeo, Pope Gregory VII., and many other 
great Catholic reformers, were as severe as he, but more 
winning and more successful. 

Myers — ^"The relation of Erasmus to the whole re- 
form movement * '^ * * is well indicated by the charge 
* * * * that 'Erasmus laid the egg, and Luther hatched 
it.' " 

Comment — This is all moonshine. Erasmus lived and 
died a Catholic. He wrote at times lightly of serious 
matters, and spoke, perhaps, imprudently; but he never 
wrote or spoke heretically. Three years before his death 
Pope Paul III. secured to him an annual revenue of 5,000 
ducats. He could not have been much of a Protestant. 

The Lollards. — 

Comment — The paragraph on the Lollards is very in- 

14— 



208 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

teresting. The author says that they had a disease, a 
spiritual leprosy, and were trying to spread the infection. 
The authorities drove them out into the mountains, and 
there they wandered about, poor and miserable, catching 
at every mad illusion. Yet these wretches in body, mind, 
and soul, Mr. Myers makes the collaborators of the Ref- 
ormation. 

II. The Reign oe Henry VII. 
llie Tzvo Impostors. — 

Henry's Avarice and Despotism : Benevolences. — . 
Maritime Discoveries. — 
Foreign Matrimonial Alliances. — 

MyerSt — "A rule of the Church which forbade a man 
to marry his brother's widow, stood in the way of this 
arrangement." (Marriage of Henry and Catherine.) 

Comment — The relation of affinity which existed be- 
tween Arthur's widow, Catherine, and Henry, was an 
ecclesiastical impediment to their marriage. The Church 
having made the impediment, could dispense from it, as 
she did, and therefore the marriage that followed was 
valid and lawful. The qualms of conscience which it was 
said disturbed Henry's peace in after years, on account 
of this marriage, was gross hypocrisy, as everybody 
knows. 

III. England Severed From the Papacy by Henry 

VIII. 
Opening of the Reign. — 

Cardinal Wolsey. — 

Comment — The following account of Cardinal Wolsey 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 209 

is an excerpt from Dr. Brownson's essay on "The Eng- 
lish Schism:" "There may have been worse men than 
Wolsey, who have worn the purple, but we think the 
Church could hardly have had a worse representative in 
England at the time. We reject the infamous charges 
preferred against him after his disgrace, * * * * and we 
think not unfavorably of his deportment and sentiments 
after his fall * * * * Wolsey was a vain, ambitious, 
worldly-minded, unscrupulous man, precisely one of those 
men who bring discredit on churchmen, and tend to alien- 
ate the affections of serious and simple minds from the 
Church. He was magnificent, a lover of the arts, and 
a liberal patron of learning and the learned. He was a 
skillful and in general a successful diplomatist, an able 
minister, an a passable lord high chancellor; but he was 
a crafty politician rather than a great statesman.* * * * 
As a churchman, he forgot the interests of religion, sub- 
ordinated the interests of the Church to those of the 
Kingdom, and used her revenues to aggrandize him- 
self and his prince. He did more to shake the stability 
of the Church in England than the worst of his con- 
temporaries." 

Myers — "The Pope, courting the influence of Wolsey, 
made him a cardinal, and afterwards Papal legate in Encr- 
land." 

Comment— By this assertion the author doubtless 
would insinuate conduct unbecoming a Pope. He could 
not openly assail the Pope's conduct, so he resorts to in- 
sidious suggestion. A hint is often charged with more 
venom than an open assault. 

Henry's C cntinental Wars. — 

The Battle of Floddcn Field.— 



2l0 MISTAKES AND MISSTaTEMEnTS. 

Henry os Defender of the Faith. — 

Myers — "Henry maintained the divine authority of 
the Pope, because the vahdity of his marriage with Cath- 
erine depended upon the vahdity of the Papal act where- 
by the Levitical and canon law which forbade a man 
to marry his brother's widow was annulled, and permis- 
sion given to Henry to marry the wife of his deceased 
brother, Arthur; and that act was invalid unless the 
Pope has divine authority to dispense with a law laid 
down in the Bible." 

Comment — What does Mr. Myers care about the ordi- 
nances of the Levitical law concerning marriage? Noth- 
ing. Do Protestants observe them? No. Do Catholics? 
No. Why not ? Because they ceased on the introduction 
of the New Dispensation, Does a papal dispensation an- 
nul a law? No, it asserts the law. A dispensation is 
a relaxation of the law in a particular case, but not an 
annulment of the law. Has the Pope power to annul 
"a law laid down in the Bible?" He has not. Has the 
Pope power to dispense from "a. law laid down in the 
Bible?" He has not. He can dispense only from Church 
laws. But how can Mr. Myers make these false state- 
ments ? You had better ask Mr. Myers. 

Mr. Myers is a great patron of the "New Learning," 
and the Protestant Reformation with its motto : "The 
Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible; the 
Bible without note or comment, as the sole rule of faith." 
Surely, then, he must know something of the Bible ! Alas, 
his scriptural learning has not outstripped his metaphysi- 
cal attainments. He says : "The Levitical * * * * law 
forbade a man to marry his brother's widow." Did it? 
Only when the deceased brother left a child or children, 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 211 

as Arthur did not. If the deceased left no children, it 
became the duty of the brother to marry the widow. It 
was to this law, commanding the marriage of the sur- 
viving brother to the widow, that the Sadducees referred 
when they said to Christ : "Master, Moses said, if a man 
die having no son, his brother shall marry his wife, and 
raise up issue to his brother." The exact words of the 
commandment to which the Sadducees referred are to 
be found Deut. ch. xxv, v. 5 : "When brethren dwell to- 
gether, and one of them dieth without children, the 
wife of the deceased shall not marry to another : but his 
brother shall take her, and raise up seed for his brother." 
The very contrary of what Mr. Myers asserts, is true. 

Now, what a sorry figure does this pretender to scrip- 
tural learning present, floundering hopelessly in the shal- 
lows of most commonplace knowledge ! And the tre- 
mendous conclusion that the marriage was invalid unless 
the Pope had authority to annul a divine law "laid down 
in the Bible," comes tumbling down, and buries the little 
Myers out of sight. 

]\IyERS— "This title, 'Defender of the Faith,' was re- 
tained by Henry after the secession of the Church of 
England from the Papal See, and is borne by his suc- 
cessors at this day, though they are defenders of cjuite 
a different faith from that in the defense of which Henry 
first earned the title." 

Comment — Aside from temporal considerations, it is 
probable that Edward VII. does not care a straw for 
the maintenance of the Anglican Establishment. 
Henry Seeks to Be Divorced From Catherine. — 

Myers — "We have now to relate some circumstances 
which changed Henry from a zealous supporter of the 
Papacy into its bitterest enemy." 



212 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMJJNTS. 

Comment — Henry VIII. was never a zealous support- 
er of the Papacy, nor even an exemplary Catholic sov- 
ereign. 

Myers — "Of the five children born of his union with 
Catherine, all had died save a sickly daughter named 
Mary. In these successive afflictions which left him 
without a son to. succeed him, Henry saw, or feigned to 
see a certain sign of heaven's displeasure because he had 
taken to wife the widow of his brother." 

Comment — Mr. Myers knows very well that the 
King's feigning was a miserable subterfuge to escape just 
condemnation for an abominable crime. 

Myers — "And now a new circumstance arose, if it 
had not existed sometime previous to this. Henry con- 
ceived a violent passion for Anne Boleyn. * * * * This 
new affection so quickened the King's conscience, — " 

Comment — This is the first time we have ever heard 
it stated that a violent passion of carnal lust quickens 
the conscience. If what the author said, when treating 
of Islam, be true, that, "civilization certainly owes a large 
debt to the Saracens," we think that such sentiments 
constituted the contribution. 

Myers — "This new affection so quickened the King's 
conscience that he soon became fully convinced that it 
was his duty to put Catherine aside." 

Comment—His duty ! For shame ! We say- to you, 
Mr. Myers, that this base betrayal of the memory of a 
noble woman, and this vain effort to redeem the ruined 
reputation of a lewd and bloody king, should turn you 
scarlet. We say to you in the words of Queen Catherine: 
"Woe upon you, and all such false professors." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTAT^MliNTS. 213 

Myers — "Henry asked the Pope, Clement VII., to 
grant him a divorce. The request placed Clement in a 
very embarrassing position ; for if he refused to grant it, 
he would offend Henry; and if he granted it, he would 
greatly offend Charles V." 

Comment — Thank God, there is one power on earth 
that will do justice though the heavens fall. Unlike some 
men, some authors, the horizon of whose activity reaches 
not beyond expediency and selfishness, the Vicar of 
Christ in the discharge of his office, consults not the likes 
and dislikes of men, but solely the justices and judgments 
of God. The question was : is the marriage valid ? To 
ascertain the facts, not the law, two cardinals were dele- 
gated. 

The Pall of Wolsey. — 

The Opinion of the Universities. — 

Myers — "The question at issue was simply this : Can 
the Pope annul the law of God ?" 

Comment — The question at issue was simply not this. 
There was no question of divine positive law; nor was 
there any question of annulment of law. There was no 
proper question of the Pope's power, for the Pope is 
the supreme court in the Church, and defines his own 
power. The only fact to be determined was, had the 
ecclesiastical impediment or impediments been properly 
dispensed from prior to the marriage? The interference 
of the universities was simply impertinence. They had 
not been authorized by the Pope, and had nothing to 
do with the case. We wish that Mr. Myers would try 
to understand a little of this. 

Myers — "The opinions of the learned doctors were 



214 MISTAKES AND misstate;mii;nts. 

so conflicting, and especially in the case of the English 
universities of Oxford and Cambridge so manifestly 
tainted with bribery, that nothing save delay resulted 
from this plan of settlement." 

Comment — We were recently told that, ''the new af- 
fection quickened the King's conscience." It seems now 
that his conscience Avas quickened to play the boodle act. 

Thomas Cromivell. — 

Mye;rs — "Upon the disgrace of Wolsey, a faithful at- 
tendant of his named Thomas Cromwell straightway as- 
sumed in Henry's regard the place from which the Cardi- 
nal had fallen." 

Comment — And now behold Thomas Cromwell ! He 
was faithful ; he was unostentatious ; he was a wonderful 
man. Such is the author's tribute. But "faithful" to 
whom and to what? Not to God and right, but to the 
King and his wicked ambition. "Caring nothing" for 
what? "For pomp and parade," and as much for justice 
and truth. "Wonderful" in what? In villainy. On 
the ruin of the constitution, he aimed to build royal 
despotism; and on the ruin of the authoritative Church 
of Christ, the fawning national establishment. 

By his advice and machinations the monasteries were 
seized. The historian Alzog says : "The work of sup- 
pressing the monasteries was completed by an act of 
parliament in 1539, 'vesting in the crown all property, 
movable and immovable, of the monastic establish- 
ments, which either had already been or should here- 
after be suppressed, abolished, or surrendered.' By the 
year 1540 the work of secularization had been completed ; 
the royal will had been carried out with shocking van- 



MISTAKIiS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 215 

dalism ; works that had cost years of patient and skillful 
labor, the triumphs of art and the monuments of science, 
all were destroyed. Nor did the hatred of the ancient 
faith stop here. The tombs of St. Augustine, the apostle 
of the Anglo-Saxons, and St. Thomas a'Becket, martyr to 
his defense of ecclesiastical immunities, were despoiled, 
and the ashes they contained flung to the winds. Even 
the tomb of King Alfred, "the founder of England's great- 
ness, did not escape the hands of the ravager. * * * The 
bulk of the sacrilegious plunder went to indemnify the 
royal visitors and the parasites of the court." 

The Breach With Rome. — 

Myers— "The advice of Cromwell was acted upon, 
and by a series of steps England was swiftly and for- 
ever carried out from under the authority of the Ro- 
man See." 

Comment — Swiftly, yes ; but we trust not forever. The 
way to hell is easy: "Broad is the way, and wide the 
gate, that leadeth to destruction," and a whole nation 
can quit the Church and set out upon the road in a 
day; but the return is difficult, and because of the nar- 
rowness of the way, the crowds must come back in single 
file. Yet there are hopeful signs for England. The 
Church is strong there, and growing stronger. Religious 
orders of men are numerous, and there are more religious 
Sisters now in England than before the monasteries were 
confiscated. 

Myers— "Henry first virtually cut the Gordian knot 
by a secret marriage with Anne Boleyn, notAvithstanding 
a Papal decree threatening him with excommunication." 

Comment — And thus the English Reformation was 
begotten, the offspring of unlawful wedlock. 



216 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "Cranmer, the Cambridge doctor who had 
advised the King to submit the question of the vaHdity 
of his union with Catherine to the universities, and who 
had further served him by writing a book in favor of 
the divorce, was * * * * made archbishop of Canter- 
bury." 

Comment — Henry had no authority to make Cranmer 
archbishop of Canterbury. These unauthorized proceed- 
ings reveal the lawless and desperate origin of the Epis- 
copal Church. 

Myers — "Cranmer at once formed a court, tried the 
case, and of course declared the King's marriage with 
Catherine null and void from the very first." 

Comment — Why, of course? Because Henry wanted 
it so declared. You will find on examination that heret- 
ical churches are ever the willing tools of temporal princes. 
The only Church which dares withstand the tyrant is 
the Catholic Church. 

The Act of Supremacy. — 

Myers — "The Pope in great wrath issued a decree ex- 
communicating Henry." 

Comment — The Pope was indignant at the villainy 
of the royal reprobate, who trampled under foot decency, 
justice, truth, and religion; and with anger like that of 
our divine Lord when He expelled the buyers and sell- 
ers from the temple, he drove from the Church the sac- 
rilegious King. 

Myers — "The act of Supremacy was passed. .This 
statute made Henry the Supreme Head of the Church in 
England." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 217 

Comment — What a comely body the new church nuisi 
have had to match so beautiful a head ! 

Myers — "The Act of Supremacy was passed * * * * 
turning into Henry's hands the revenues which had hither- 
to flowed into the coffers of the Roman See." 

Comment — And those, too, which had remained at 
home — all now the fruit of legalized robbery. 

Myers — "A denial of the title given the King by the 
statute was made high treason." 

Comment — -And punishable with death. 

Myers — "This statute established the independence 
of the Anglican Church." 

Comment — No, its dependence on the King, and a 
slave it remains. 

We now refer the reader to Mr. Myers' account of 
the "General Results of the Reformation," and we in- 
vite him to try to discover those boasted results in the 
English Reformation. 

"The first * * * result * * * * was the severance of 
the nations * * * * from * * * * Rome." Granted. 

"The second * * '"^ * was the bringing in by it of 
the principle of religious toleration." Persecution for con- 
science sake. 

"The third result * * * * was its influence upon lib- 
eral government." Despotism. 

"The Reformation was favorable to intellectual prog- 
ress.'' Books were written in defense of the King's di- 
vorce and other crimes. 

"The Reformation had a purifying effect upon mor- 
als." By calling sins, virtues. 

"The Reformation has been favorable to material 



218 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

progress." By converting monasteries into factories and 
stables. Very good, indeed ! 

Henry as Supreme Head of the Church. — 

Myers — "The worship of images and relics was con- 
demned." 

Comment — ^^"Worship," then and still means honor. 
The condemnation of honoring the images and relics of 
saints is a sin against both reason and religion. The 
great and good should be honored in life and death, 
and whatever intimately pertains to them. 

Myers — "The entire Bible was now first given in 
print to the English people in their native tongue." 

Comment — That was no great matter, as already they 
had it in its parts; and they were forbidden to interpret 
and apply it except as perverted by heretics. 

Myers — "Thus was the English church cared for 
by its self-appointed shepherd." 

Comment — That was the care of a step-mother. The 
King robbed the people of their faith, and then gave them 
the Bible which they could not understand; as the Bible 
to be understood must be interpreted in accordance with 
the faith. The truth of this latter statement is illustrated 
by the author's vain effort to understand the Scriptural 
law regarding marriage. Voltaire, the great French in- 
fidel, said, that the most eft'ective way to disseminate in- 
fidelity was to interpret the Bible by private judgment. 

jMyERS — "What the English church should be called 
under Henry it would be hard to say. It was not Prot- 
estant; and it was just as far from being Catholic-." 

Coinincnt — It was Protestant. Protestantism em- 
braces all those sects that protested against the Catholic 



MiS'l'AKES AND MISSTAtliMliNTS. 219 

Church in the sixteenth century, or subsequently have 
sprung from them. 

The Suppression of the Monasteries. — 

Myers — "Two royal commissioners were appointed 
to inspect the monasteries, and make a report on what 
they might see and learn. If we may believe the report, 
and it was doubtless in the main truthful, the smaller 
houses were conducted in a most shameful manner." 

Comment — It seems that our author has gone stark- 
mad. "If we can believe the report," he says. Who can 
believe the report ? No man in his right senses can think 
of believing it. Who were appointed do you think, on 
the "Royal Commission?" Men of unsullied veracity? Of 
course not. The King appointed men wdio would do 
his bidding, and well they knew what kind of report 
would please him. Now, our simple author with the 
feigned credulity of a child in arms, says that he thinks 
the report was "in the main truthful." The statement is 
nothing to his credit. 

Myers — "The monks being found guilty of all man- 
ner of crimes." 

Comment — -The monks were found guilty in the re- 
port. The royal adulterer and his royal commission ac- 
cused the monks of licentiousness. Could impudence go 
further? In like manner the Scribes and Pharisees ac- 
cused our Lord of being possessed by a devil. 

Myers — "The iniquities practiced in many of the mo- 
nasteries under the guise of religion were exposed." 

Comment — Iniquities have never been practiced in 
monasteries under the protection of religion. All monks 



2^0 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

have not been saints, but religion has never approved, 
promoted, or countenanced, their faults. 

Myers — "Altogether there were 90 colleges, 110 hos- 
pitals, 2,374 chantries and chapels, and 615 monasteries 
broken up." 

Comment — What do you think of that for wholesale 
robbery and desecration ! And that, too, by the founder 
and head of the English Reformed church. How little 
must he have cared, not only for God, but for God's lit- 
tle ones, the poor, the feeble, and the sick. 

Myers — "By far the greater portion of the confiscated 
wealth was distributed among the adherents and favor- 
ites of the King. Thus a new nobility was raised up 
whose interests led them to oppose any return to Rome." 

Comment^A new ig-nobility was raised up : and were 
you to read the book entitled, "History and Fate of Sac- 
rilege," you would be surprised to learn how C|uickly and 
terribly the divine wrath visited the families of the vil- 
lains who accepted the property consecrated to piety and 
charity. The author of the remarkable work traveled 
about England beseeching the venal lords to save them- 
selves by a speedy restoration of the ill-gotten goods, and 
publishing the fate of the first possessors. Many of the 
lords, terrified at his relations, abandoned the confiscated 
estates. 

Persecution of Catholics and Protestants. — 

Comment — It is a remarkable fact well worthy of 
remembrance that the Reformers who asserted the right 
of private judgment, persecuted those who by the use 
of private judgment, disagreed with them. 



MlST'AKIiS AND MISSTvVl^EMENfS. 221 

Mykrs — "The most illustrious of the King's victims 
were the learned Sir Thomas More, and the aged Bishop 
Fisher." 

Comment — These two martyrs were beatified by Pope 
Leo XIII. The decree of beatification bears date of Dec. 
29th, 1886. 

Henry's Wives. — 

Henry's Death and Character. — 

Mye;rs — "The friends of the Protestant cause have 
naturally exalted him to the first place among England's 
Kings, and eulogized him as the most eminent champion 
of the Reformation." 

Comment — But their eulogies have fallen on deaf cars. 
The world still calls him a monster. The historian Alzog 
says : "During his reign of thirty-eight years, he ordered 
the execution of two queens, two cardinals, two arch- 
bishops, eighteen bishops, thirteen abbots, five hundred 
priors and monks, thirty-eight doctors of divinity and 
laws, twelve dukes and earls, one hundred and sixty- 
four nobles," etc., etc. 

"They eulogized him as the most eminent champion 
of the Reformation," and yet they tell us that the Refor- 
mation introduced civil liberty and religious toleration. 
We choose to think that they are mistaken, and that the 
Reformation has the spirit of its founder. 

Myijrs — "He delivered England from the power of 
the Papal See, and became the defender of the independ- 
ence of the national church." 

Comment — There never was, never will be, and never 
can be, an independent national church. A national 



222 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

church is the creature and slave of the nation. Henry 
became the autocrat of the dependent national church. 

Literature Under Henry VIII. More's Utopia. — 

Myers — "English society was simply a conspiracy of 
the rich against the poor." 

Comment — We think that no drunkard was ever more 
intemperate in drinking than this man in writing. His 
prodigality of statement is wonderful. He seems to re- 
gard it a virtue to say extravagant things, and to say 
them recklessl3^ Does he know that before the Reforma- 
tion there were no poor-houses in England, and no need 
for them ? The poor were fed at the 645 monasteries, and 
cared for in the 110 hospitals, which the head of the Eng- 
lish Reformation confiscated. Besides, the public con- 
science judged it every rich man's duty to care for the 
poor of his neighborhood. England, prior to the Refor- 
mation, merited and received the title "Merry England." 
It is "Merry England" no more. If England was cov- 
ered over with little rude cottages that might be called 
huts, it must be remembered that many conveniences 
which we now regard almost as necessaries of life, were 
then seldom enjoyed even by the rich. 

As to the Utopia, — Blessed Thomas More deplored the 
evils of his time, and wrote to correct them; but it is 
not true that "he saw a better future," for he foresaw, 
and foretold, the calamities the Reformation would in- 
troduce. 

Myers — "More told how in this happy republic 
(Utopia) every person * * * * was allowed to follow 
what religion he chose." 

Comment — Mr. Myers seems not to know that the 



mistake;s and misstatements. 223 

imaginary Utopians were not even Christians, but had 
only natural rehgion. 

Myers — "Although in his book he had expressed his 
decided disapproval of persecution for conscience sake 
* * * * yet he afterwards, driven into reaction by the 
terrible excesses of the Peasants' War in Germany, and 
by other popular tumults which seemed to be the out- 
growth of the Protestant movement, favored persecution." 

Comment — Blessed Thomas More never favored per- 
secution, but he favored the employment of force when 
necessary to prevent the dissemination of doctrines cal- 
culated by their very nature to produce violent results. 
The social disorders which he saw flowing from the new 
doctrines convinced him that the abetters of heresy should 
be restrained. His argument was that it is better to 
prevent the cause of trouble than correct the effect. 

Mr. Myers, while condemning persecution, practices 
it, for he slanders Blessed Thomas More by imputing to 
him doctrines that he did not hold. 

IV. Changes in Creed and Rituae Under Edward VI. 
Events at the Accession. — 
Changes in the Religion. — 

Myers — "By a royal decree all pictures and images 
and crosses were cleared from the churches." 

Comment — Which was very natural ; for as Christ had 
departed at the rejection of the Blessed Sacrament, why 
should his cross remain ? Why should the images of his 
friends, the saints, remain? 

Myers — "The frescoes were covered with whitewash, 
and the stained glass windows were broken in pieces." 

15— 



224 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMI^NTS. 

Coiiiiiicnt — The consecrated churches had been 
changed into meeting houses, the people had lost the 
faith, and the symbols of the Christian mysteries were 
unintelligible and out of place. 

MYiiRS — "The robe and surplice were cast away." 
Connncnt — For there was no one worthy to wear 
them. 

Mykrs — "The use of tapers, holy water, and incense 
were forbidden." 

Comment — Because religion had been naturalized. 
MyiJrs — "The worship (veneration) of the Virgin and 
the saints was prohibited." 

Comment — Having rejected the Son, they now re- 
jected His Mother and His friends. 

Myers — "Belief in Purgatory was denounced." 

Comment — And sympathy for the suffering souls de- 
parted, ceased. 

Myers — "Prayers for the dead were interdicted." 

Comment — And the poor souls beyond the grave were 
robbed of the help of the living. 

Myers — "The real or bodily presence of Christ in the 
bread and wine of the sacrament was denied." 

Comment — It was not denied, because it had not been 
asserted. Our brilliant theologian has not yet learned 
what is the doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. 

Myers — "The prohibition against the marriage of the 
clergy was annulled." 

Comment — Because it requires something more than 
a sacrament of bread and wine to enable the clergy to 
practice the evangelical counsel of perpetual chastity. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMI^NTS. 225 

MyKrs — "And the services of the church which had 
hitherto been conducted in Latin, were ordered to be 
said in the language of the people." 

Comment — The new religion was to be national, and 
therefore a national language was sufficient. Its creed 
was to be variable, therefore, a variable living language 
suited its needs. Yet with characteristic heretical versa- 
tility, not many years passed before pictures, crosses, 
stained glass windows, surplices, tapers, etc., etc., were 
gradually restored; but the life-giving sacraments and 
the living truth never returned. 

Persecutions to Secure Unifoniiity. — 

Myers — "The idea of toleration had not yet dawned 
upon the world, save in the happier moments of some 
such generous and wide-horizoned soul as his who con- 
ceived the Utopia." 

Comment — We think that the author's idea is, that the 
full and perfect light of toleration never dawned upon 
the mind of man in both his happy and unhappy moments 
until it illumined the generous and wide-horizoned soul 
of P. V. N. M. We may be mistaken, but straws in the 
wind indicate it. But Mr. Myers is wrong. — Constantine, 
the first Christian Emperor of Rome, placed Christianity 
and paganism on a perfectly equal footing before the 
State. 

Myers — "Probably a large majority of the English 
people were at this time good Catholics." 

Comment — Many did not reject the faith. It was 
stolen from them. 

Myers — "The Princess Mary, * * * * was not al- 
lowed to have the Roman service in her own private 



226 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

chapel. * * * '''' Idolatry in high places could not be tol- 
erated." 

Comment — Nor should mendacity in low places be tol- 
erated; and to call the Sacrifice of the Mass, idolatry, is 
mendacity. • 

V. Reaction Under Mary. 

Lady Jane Grey. — 

Reconciliation With Rome. — 

Myers — "The union of the bigotry of Philip with 
the zeal of Mary resulted in the full re-establishment cf 
the Catholic worship through the realm." 

Comment — This is another ugly statement. Bigotry 
did not, and could not, contribute aught toward the es- 
tablishment or re-establishment of the Catholic worship. 
Zeal is a virtue, and was a very necessary virtue for a 
Catholic monarch in those days. 

The Martyrs: Latimer, Ridley, and Cranmer. — 

Comment — The following we copy from the historian 
Alzog: "Of the two hundred and seventy-nine persons 
executed during Mary's reign, many, like Cranmer and 
Ridley, were contemptible miscreants ; while others, like 
Latimer, were perfidious knaves. Cranmer who had been 
making decisions in the fullness of his authority during 
his whole life, and reversing them again at the bidding 
of an incontinent king; composing prayer-books under 
the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and, at the suggestion 
of such reformers as Bucer and Peter Martyr correct- 
ing the errors which the Holy Ghost had permitted him 
to insert ; signing articles of faith under Henry VHL, and ■ 



MIv'^TAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 227 

rejecting them again as false under Edward VI. ; went on 
asserting and denying, as suited his interest and con- 
venience, till the last hour of his life. In the hope 
of saving his life, he signed no fewer than six re- 
tractions, and on each occasion vehemently professed his 
attachment to the Catholic faith ; but, finding that these 
availed not to secure his pardon, he recalled them all at 
the moment of execution." 

Myers — "Punishment of heresy was then regarded, 
by both Catholics and Protestants alike, as a duty which 
could be neglected by those in authority only at the 
peril of heaven's displeasure." 

Comment — Catholic governments punished turbulent 
heretics because heresy was a crime against the civil 
law in every state prior to the Reformation. Heresy 
is certainly a great crime against God's law : no one will 
deny it. Prior to the Reformation there was in every 
country a union of Church and State : the State observed 
and maintained, the laws of the Church. Heresy was 
therefore a sin against the State. Not only was the Ref- 
ormation destructive of Christian faith, and ruinous to 
immortal souls ; but inimical to civil government and civil 
obedience, as witness the unchristian revolutions and 
long and bloody wars which heresy introduced. 

If Mr. Myers condemns the severe measures used by 
Catholic monarchs in the execution of the civil laws 
against heresy and heretics, for the protection of their 
subjects against the wiles of deceivers ; he can find his 
condemnation in the anger of Moses when he broke the 
two tables of stone, and ordered the execution of 33,000 
Hebrews who had abandoned the worship of God to adore 
the golden calf, 



228 MISTAKES AND MISSTATUMI^NTS. 

Myers — "Catholics and Protestants alike thought that 
* * * * one's eternal happiness depends upon the cor- 
rectness of one's opinion as to all the articles of a par- 
ticular creed." 

Comment — The author will never get his eyes open, 
we fear. Catholics do not believe that salvation in any 
way depends upon opinions ; nor do they believe that a 
knowledge of "all the articles" of faith is essential to 
salvation ; they believe, however, with our Lord that, "He 
that believeth not shall be condemned." They also be- 
lieve that the object of faith, or the things to be believed, 
is the revelation which God has made, and which the 
Church proposes, or sets forth, for our acceptance ; and 
they believe that the doctrines which the Church pro- 
poses, are the truths which God has revealed, because 
the Church is infallible; having been instituted for the 
express purpose of teaching those truths. 

TJic Loss of Calais. — 

VI. Final Establishment oe Protestantism Under 

Elizabeth. 
The Queen. — 

Myers — ^"Along with her good and queenly qualities, 
Elizabeth had many unamiable traits." 

Comment — How Elizabeth who, as the author says, 
was unamiable and unwomanly; capricious, treacherous, 
unscrupulous, ungrateful and cruel ; deceitful, false, and 
mendacious; devoid of moral and religious sense; proud, 
vain, selfish, extravagant, and blasphemous ; base, with- 
out enthusiasm and without sympathy; could yet possess 
good and queenly qualities, is an enigma which we must 
leave to Mr. Myers for solution. A person without moral 



MISTAKES AND misstati;ments. 229 

and religious sense, must be incapable of moral and re- 
ligious acts; and the goodness which she possesses must 
be a ph_vsical goodness only, like that possessed by the 
animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. 

Her Ministers. — 

Re-estahUshment of the Reformed Chiireh. — 

Myers — "Parliament, by the two important Acts of 
Supremacy and Uniformity, relaid the foundations of the 
Anglican Church * * * * Of course all this was aimed 
at the pretensions of the Roman See." 

Comment — Could anything be more absurd than to 
refuse obedience to the successor of St. Peter, and pro- 
claim the supremacy of Queen Elizabeth? If there is 
anything more preposterous in religious history, it is the 
assertion of the right of private judgment and the de- 
cree that all must judge alike. Yet we are seriouslv in- 
formed that these insane acts "relaid the foundations of 
the Anglican Church." 

The Protestant Non-Conformists. — 

Mary Stuart, Queen of Seats. — 

Comment — The author's treatment of Alary, Queen 
of Scots, is unworthy of him. In the first place, her 
devotion to Rizzio is satisfactorily explained by docu- 
ments found in Italian archives which prove that he 
was an Italian priest in the guise of a fiddler, come to di- 
rect and comfort the queen in her perplexities and sor- 
rows. Impartial historians exonerate her from all com- 
plicity in the murder of her cruel, brutal husband. Darn- 
ley; and from' all disgrace in her marriage with the Earl 



230 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

of Bothwell, which was effected by threats and violence. 
Suffice it to say, that she was surrounded by enemies, re- 
Hgious fanatics, and unscrupulous plotters against her life, 
her throne, and her reputation. We are surprised to find 
an author so unjust and so unchivalric as to refuse to re- 
deem the slandered reputation of a virtuous, noble, and 
persecuted woman. 

Myers — "Mary was placed in confinement, and for 
nineteen years remained a prisoner. During all this time 
she was the centre of innumerable plots and conspiracies 
on the part of Catholics, which aimed at setting her upon 
the English throne. The Pope aided these conspirators 
by a bull excommunicating Elizabeth." 

Comment — The Pope aimed not to aid the conspira- 
tors and plotters, but he sought to aid the cause of jus- 
tice. Elizabeth had taken the Catholic coronation oath, 
and had flagrantly broken it. She had merited excom- 
munication. 

Myers — "While our sympathies may be enlisted in 
behalf of the unfortunate victim, our judgment must pro- 
nounce her execution necessary not only to the sta- 
bility of Elizabeth's government, but to the security of 
the Protestant cause." 

Comment — A cause that requires murder for its main- 
tenance, is a bad cause. It seems that Mr. Myers' judg- 
ment justifies the murder for the same reason that rob- 
bers justify their deeds of blood — violence must be done 
or the enterprise will fail. An example will illustrate : — 
After the James and Younger brothers had raided the 
Northfield, Minn., bank, they lost their way and. wan- 
dered hopelessly in the Big Woods. One day they ap- 
prehended a farm-hand, named Dunnig, whom they com-. 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTAT]]:me;nTS. 231 

pelled to disclose to them their whereabouts, and the way 
by which they could escape from the state. When all 
was told, the raiders sat down and deliberated whether 
they should kill Dunning to prevent his informing the 
authorities, and their arrest. One eloquent robber was 
for murder, declaring that his judgment pronounced it 
necessary. This robber, Mr. Myers, and Queen Eliza- 
beth, seem to have argued from the same principle, that 
the end justifies the means, and to the same conclusion. 
The other robbers, however, less bloody than their elo- 
quent comrade, dissented from the judgment of Mr. 
Myers and "Good Queen Bess," overruled the decision of 
their murderous companion, and released their captive. 
Unlike Dunning, who was a stranger to his captors, Mary 
had come to Elizabeth for protection, and her execution 
was not only murder, but gross inhospitality and betrayal. 
That daggers threatened the life of Elizabeth, and fur- 
nished motives for her terrible crime, we doubt not ; but 
that the imprisoned Mary was implicated in the plots 
against Elizabeth, no respectable historian will admit. The 
trial was the merest mockery; and the judgment as well 
as the sympathies of impartial men are all on the side 
of the murdered and slandered Queen. 

The end does not justify the means ; that is, a good 
end does not justify evil means. But if a good end can- 
not justify evil means, much less can an evil end. Let 
us make the application. England had a political consti- 
tution prior to Henry VIII., and it was a Catholic con- 
stitution. Henry swore to preserve and defend it ; so also 
did Elizabeth. Both sacrilegiously foreswore themselves, 
and played the traitor and tyrant. To perpetuate the new 
order of things treasonably introduced, many murders 
may have been necessary. Mr. Myers says that this mur- 



232 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

der was necessary: "Our judgment must pronounce her 
execution necessary not only to the stabiHty of Eliza- 
beth's government, but to the security of the Protestant 
cause." The meaning of this is : Treason justifies Mur- 
der. A conscience that so reasons is called by theolo- 
gians, "Conscientia falsa;" and in the domain of morals 
it plays havoc like to that of a bull in a china shop. 

The Invincible Armada. — 

Myers — "The Pope, Sixtus V., blessed the enterprise, 
which was thus rendered a sort of crusade," 

Comment — The blessing of the great Pope declared 
the expedition just. Elizabeth was illegitimate, a traitor, 
an apostate, a perjurer, a usurper, a tyrant, and a perse- 
cutor. If it was lawful for the United States to interfere 
in the Spanish government of Cuba, for a better reason 
might Spain make war on England. But this war was, 
says the author, a "revengeful and ambitious project of 
Spain." Very likely revenge and ambition were not entire- 
ly absent. Perhaps, too, like passions were not absent 
from our attack upon Spain. As to, "the craft of Rome," 
we prefer to call it, "the spleen of Myers." But, con- 
tinues the professor, "the Catholics in every county re- 
paired to the standard of the lord-lieutenant." Yes, and 
doubtless the professor would fight for the Sultan of 
Turkey were he urged by the sight of a gallows to 
buckle on his armor. 

Maritime and Colonial Enterprise. — 
The Queen's DeatJi. — ^ 

Myers — "The closing days of Elizabeth's reign were, 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 233 

to her personally, dark and gloomy. She seemed to be 
burdened with a secret grief." 

Comment — She had reason sufficient for sorrow, but 
we fear her grief was rather the despair of Judas than 
the repentance of Peter. 

Literature oe the Elizabethan Era. 
Influences Favorable to Literature. — 

Myers — "The years covered by the reign of Elizabeth 
constitute the most momentous period in history." 

Comment — But who were they who made it great? 
The author says, "The discoveries of Columbus and 
Copernicus had created * * * * a new heaven and a 
new earth. Both of them were Catholics. "The New 
Learning had revealed an unsuspected treasure in the 
philosophies and literatures of the past." The New 
Learning was brought to light by Catholics, read, trans- 
lated, and disseminated by them. 

Myers — "Thus everything — the Reformation of re- 
ligion" — 

Comnient — Please do tell us one thing that the Refor- 
mation reformed. 

Myers — " — and the enfranchisement of thought" — 

Comment — Thought is always and necessarily free, 
and cannot be enfranchised because it cannot be disfran- 
chised : but if you mean, sir, that now for the first time 
men were permitted to freely profess and practice their 
faith, then go, read over again what you wrote on the 
"Act of L^niformity," and humbly beg the reader's par-* 
don. 



234 mistake;s and misstatements. 

My dear sir, yon are so stupid and self-contradictory 
that a child of twelve could lose patience with you. With 
the exception of Protests, Revolutions, Iconoclasm, and 
Confiscations, all that you recount, every new and good 
thing that you mention — new lands and new races of 
men visited, lost arts re-found, long closed libraries dis- 
covered and reopened, "a new heaven and a new earth," 
etc., etc.,— all are due to the ingenuity of Catholics. 

Myers — "There seemed to be nothing too great or 
arduous for the English nation to undertake. * * * * 
They humbled the pride of the strongest monarch in 
Christendom." 

Comment — You even now told us that it was the 
storms that shattered the Invincible Armada. 

Myers — "They sailed round the globe." 

Co7nment — In the wake of Magellan. 

Myers — "Fisher * * * * writes as follows : 'That 
Protestantism was a life-giving element in the atmos- 
phere in which the eminent authors of that and of the 
following ages drew their inspiration, admits of no rea- 
sonable doubt. We have only to imagine,' " etc. 

Comment — Mr. Fisher will be obliged to do more than 
imagine before he shall have convinced his opponents. 
Imagination conduces no more to success in argument 
than in fishing. The fisher who imagines he catches a 
whale, often goes to bed on an empty stomach. It was 
a snag the Fisher caught. 

The Writers. — 

Myers — "Having said something of the influence un- 
, der which they wrote, we will' simply add that this age 
was the age of Shakespeare and Spenser and Bacon," 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATl^MDNTS. 235 

Coininciit — And we will simply add that what makes 
their writings especially interesting and attractive is their 
Catholic sentiments and traditions. Take away their 
Catholicity, and their works would be shorn of all their 
strength and beauty. 

Myers — "Richard Hooker* * * * by relying in his 
argument upon reason rather than upon authority, did 
much to promote the cause of religious toleration." 

Comiiiciit — Hooker was arguing against human au- 
thority in matters of faith; that is, that no king or 
council or human tribunal, has authority to dictate what 
men should believe; and so far he was right; but in ar- 
guing for the sufficiency of reason to determine the faith, 
he made a fool of himself. Why? Because reason can- 
not determine that the Bible is the Word of God; can- 
not determine that it is all of revelation, or only part; 
cannot determine what is wanting; cannot determine 
that the Bible has been preserved in its integrity; can- 
not determine that it has been correctly translated ; 
cannot determine that it has been faithfully copied; can- 
not, unaided, determine in many cases, its sense. Revela- 
tion declares many mysteries, and a mystery is an incom- 
prehensible truth, and therefore not a truth to be investi- 
gated and determined by man. How, then, are they to be 
obtained? On authority. The very definition of faith is 
belief on authority; and right here is found the dif- 
fer-ence between faith and knowledge ; what is directly 
perceived by the intellect, is known ; what is accepted 
on the authority of another, is believed. Christian faith, 
or belief, unlike human faith, believes on the veracity of 
God revealing; but we don't know what God has re- 
vealed, except as the Church proposes it. Therefore the 



236 MISTAKES AND AIISSTATe;ME;nTS. 

Church proposing the revealed truth is necessary for 
Christian faith ; and therefore, Hooker made a fool of 
himself when he said that a man's own reason should de- 
termine his belief. But Mr. Hooker is not the only 
one befuddled : Mr. Myers is as deep in the fog as he ; 
and frec[uently proves conclusively that he has no dis- 
tinct conception of Christian faith, and no knowledge of 
what is essential to an act of faith. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The; Revolt of the Netherlands : Rise oe the Dutch 

Republic. 
The Country. — 

People : Celt and German. — 

Myers — "There came a crisis in the h£e of the Europ- 
ean nations, and they were each called upon to choose 
between the Old Church and the New, between unworthy 
subjection and freedom." 

Comment — We presume that this fanatical abuse is 
a specimen of that freedom and enlightenment which the 
author enjoys as a member of the "New Church." It is 
the freedom of the bigot, the boor, and the tyrant, who 
prostitutes his high office of teaching children to the 
ignoble one of outraging their Catholic sentiments, and 
infecting their minds with the venom of his own. It is 
to him that the Teacher and Judge of teachers addresses 
this warning and threat : "He that shall scandalize one 
of these little ones that believe in Me, it were better for 
him that a mill-stone should be hanged about his neck, 
and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea." 

The Netherlands Under the Dukes of Burgundy. — 

State of the Country at the Opening of the Modern Age. — 

The Lozv Countries Under Charles V. — 

Myers — "Charles V. saw that the principles of the 
Reformation were directly opposed to his schemes of des- 
potic government." 

237 



238 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — No Catholic is obliged to excuse the 
cruelty of Charles in order to defend the Church. Charles 
was a tyrant as everybody knows, who governed very 
much as suited his pleasure, without asking or taking 
advice of the Pope ; but made war upon him and sacked 
Rome because the Pope would not obey him. Charles 
thought that a united Christendom would favor his politi- 
cal projects, and in this is found the reason of his severity 
toward Protestants. But so far from the principles of the 
Reformation opposing despotic government, they were 
eagerly embraced by ambitious monarchs because they 
were thought to favor it, as they vested supreme civil 
and religious authority in the temporal ruler, and thus 
made it easy for him to be an autocrat. No governments 
have been more despotic than those of England, Sweden, 
Norway and Russia; and in modern times Germany has 
been very arbitrary and cruel. Charles forbade the reading 
of the Scriptures because Protestant versions were being 
introduced among his Catholic subjects. 

Accession of Philip II. — 

Myers — "In 1559 Philip set sail for Spain, never to 
return. His arrival in the peninsula was celebrated by ah 
"auto-da-fe" at Valladolid, festivities consisting in the 
burning of thirteen persons whom the ofificers of the In- 
quisition had condemned as heretics. 

Comment — As the Spanish Inquisition tried not only 
heresy, which was everywhere throughout Europe a cap- 
ital offense against the state, but also a long list of other 
crimes, there is very good reason to doubt the nature 
of the crime for which the thirteen criminals suffered. 
It is very likely that their crime was conspiracy, rebel- 
lion or anarchy as well as heres}^ 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 239 

Burning, strangling, drawing and quartering, etc., 
were common punishments in England, Germany, France, 
and elsewhere.; and Mr. Myers has no need to get ex- 
cited over this incident at Valladolid, for, had he been 
present, he could have beheld similar scenes in London 
under Elizabeth, in Ireland under William of Orange, 
in Stockholm under Gustavus Adolphus, in Paris and 
Berlin. Some of our American Protestant sects taught un- 
til recently the doctrine that dissenters should be extermi- 
nated, and that it was the duty of the orthodox to demand 
of the chief executive the enforcement of the doctrine. 

The young man of whom our author speaks so feel- 
ingly, who going to execution, called upon King Philip 
for mercy, may have been condemned for a sin which, 
were it known, would cause Mr. Myers speedily to dry 
his tears. 

Myers — "The number of victims of Charles' perse- 
cution has been placed as high as 100,000 ; but this is 
doubtless an exaggeration." 

'Coiiiinent — Why mention it, then? We are invitee? 
to consult Fisher, and read his fish stories. No, we have 
got too much of him already. We will place the number 
executed during the reign of Charles V. at 10,000, or even 
15,000 ; but how does that compare with 72,000, Guizot's 
estimate, executed by Henry VIII., in a little kingdom of 
perhaps one tenth the number of subjects over whom 
Charles ruled. 

"Long Live the Beggars." — 

Myers — ^^"Philip declared that 'he would rather lose 
a hundred thousand lives, were they all his own, than 



16- 



240 MISTAKES AND MISSTAT^MKNTS. 

allow the smallest deviation from the standards of the 
Roman Catholic Church.' " 

Comment — It was very heroic in Philip to prefer to 
die one hundred thousand times than that the Church 
should suffer injury. This sentiment, if genuine, we most 
heartily applaud. The martyrs have all died for the 
faith, and we all should have the martyrs' spirit. But we 
in no way can approve Philip's imprudence and cruelty. 
Cruelty is no part of zeal. 

Myers — "The name Beggars * * * * became the 
party designation of the patriot Netherlanders." 

Comment — We think that Mr. Myers loves them be- 
cause they were rebels. Rebel and patriot seem with him 
synonymous. We will defer our applause until we have 
examined their right to rebel. 

Iconoclasts. — 

Myers — "The pent-up indignation of the people 
( Netherlanders ) at length burst forth in an uncontrollable 
fury. They gathered in great mobs, and arming them- 
selves with whatever implements they could first seize, 
proceeded to demolish every image they could find in 
the churches throughout the country." 

Comment — The destruction of the images of God's 
chosen friends, the saints, is impious and devilish. The 
saints are the most perfect copies of Christ, and present 
in an imitable form his virtues to men. The perpetrators 
■of the outrage successfully refute the author's assertion 
that they were patriotic, orderly, peace-loving citizens. 
The crime was not committed in anger at the Catholics 
alone, but in hatred of the saints and what they repre- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 241 

sented, for we are told that the Iconoclasts dragged the 
statues of the saints "through the mire of the streets 
amidst the execrations of the multitude." This was blas- 
phemous, and indicates the spirit of the heretics. It par- 
took of the sacrilege of the murder of the martyrs which 
had its climax in the execution of the King of Martyrs. 

The author cannot find in all history a parallel crime 
in the uprisings of persecuted Catholics. 

The Duke of Aha and the Blood Council.— 

WiUiaui of Orange. — 

Myers — "Never did any people make a more heroic 
defense of their religious and civil liberties than did the 
Netherlanders." 

Comment — The facility with which heretics pass from 
sect to sect, and the ease with Avhich they abandon re- 
ligion and lapse into infidelity, is evidence that they 
would not fight very hard, or make great sacrifice, from 
love alone for their peculiar form of creed and worship ; 
but for the enjoyment of civil liberty they will fight, 
and for exemption from such cruelties as Philip exer- 
cised toward them, they fought desperately. If the 
author seeks an example of admirable devotion to Chris- 
tianity, combined with heroic fortitude and sufifering, 
he will find it in the loyalty of the Irish people during 
centuries of persecution. 

Isolation of the Provinces. — 

The Siege and Sack of Haarlem. — 

Myers— "When intelligence of the fall of Haarlem 
and the butchery of its inhabitants was carried to Philip, 



242 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

it SO happened that he was suffering from a dangerous 
sickness ; but the news, it is said, acted hke a tonic, and 
the monarch began at once to amend." 

Comment — This reads hke a rash judgment, for bad 
news, as well as good, ofttimes acts as a tonic. The bed- 
ridden invalids in the Galveston hospitals, arose and ran 
about like well men, when the floods beat against their 
dwellings. But how does the author know that it was the 
butchery, rather than the fall of the city, that exhilarated 
the sick monarch? "It is said." By whom is it said, and 
is there any reason to accept the saying? Let us be just 
even to Philip, who was not devoid of virtues. Mr. 
Myers has much terrible castigation for his enemies, but 
his rascally friends escape with few or no stripes. 

The Siege and Relief of Ley den. — 

Myers — "Mindful of the source whence deliverance 
had come, the entire remaining population of the place 
now proceeded to the Cathedral, and there, along with 
their rescuers, offered up fervent thanksgiving to Him 
who commands the winds and the waves." 

ConimenP — It seems that the people were "mindful of 
the source whence deliverance had come." We wonder 
that the author does not excoriate them for their besotted 
ignorance and credulity, for he denies "divine interpo- 
sitions," and calls belief in them superstition. 

"The entire remaining population of the place now 
proceeded to the Cathedral, and there * * '''' * offered up 
fervent thanksgiving." 

Oh, no, they did not offer up "thanksgiving;" thanks 
were offered up, not thanksgiving. The grateful soul 
does not offer up or give thanksgiving. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMIJNTS. 243 

But as to the Cathedral — it was a CathoHc Cathedral, 
built by Catholic hands and Catholic subscriptions ; a 
Cathedral symbolizing the ancient faith and worship 
which they had abandoned and repudiated, whose images 
they had broken, and whose altars they had desecrated 
and defiled, as the author has so graphically described. A 
very remarkable and anomalous scene was this return of 
the Iconoclasts to pray. 

The Pacification of Ghent. — 

Myers — "Requescens died in 157G. His death was 
marked by a revolt of the Spanish soldiers. -^ * * * The 
mutinous army marched through the land, pillaging city 
after cit}', and paying themselves with the spoils. The 
beautiful city of Antwerp was ruined. The horrible mas- 
sacre of its inhabitants * * * * caused the awful out- 
break to be called the 'Spanish Fury.' 'Almost as many 
living human beings were dashed out of existence now as 
there had been statues destroyed in the memorable image- 
breaking of Antwerp ten years before, an event which 
sent such a thrill through the heart of Catholic Christen- 
dom.' " 

Comment — A human life is infinitely more valuable 
than a statue of stone or bronze, but sacrilege is a greater 
crime than murder; for one is prompted by anger for 
man, the other by hate of God. 

The Union of Utrecht. — 

Myers — ''The Prince of Orange * * * * devoted his 
efforts to effecting a confederation of the Northern States. 
His endeavors were fortunately crowned with success." 

Comment — The author calls the formation of the con- 
federation fortunate because it laid the foundation of the 



244 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Protestant Dutch Republic. Now, we wish to remind him 
that it is not his place to pronounce upon the comparative 
merits of creeds, nor to say what is fortunate or unfor- 
tunate in religious disputes and contests. His judgment 
is too erratic, and his religion, if he have any, is not 
of the right kind, to give his opinion any value in our eyes ; 
besides, common sense should dictate that he avoid giving 
his religious opinions to a class of children of all creeds. 

Myers — "The ten Catholic provinces of the South, 
although they continued their contest with Philip a lit- 
tle longer, ultimately submitted to Spanish tyranny, and 
left to their sister states of the North the labor and honor 
of carrying on the heroic struggle in behalf of civil and 
religious freedom." 

Comment — Were the Southern Catholic provinces con- 
tending with the Catholic King for religious liberty ? The 
author must be mixed. 

We would ask the author whether there is not more 
civil liberty, more religious liberty, and more individual 
and national prosperity, in Catholic Belgium than in 
Protestant Holland. 

The ''Ban" and the ''Apology."— 

Myers — "Philip published a ban against the Prince of 
Orange, declaring him an outlaw, and offering to any 
one who should kill him the pardon of all his sins, the 
title of nobility, and 25,000 gold crowns." 

Comment — Mr. Myers had better go slow. There is a 
state institution in Ohio, full of manacles, fetters, strait- 
jackets, cribs, etc., wherein unfortunate persons^ have 
been long detained for less grievous transgressions of 
common sense than this. Let us see. So Philip prom- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 245 

ised to the slayer of the Prince pardon of all his sins, did 
he? "Yes," says the bold Myers. But did Philip pos- 
sess the power of forgiving sins? "No," says the fidgety 
Myers. Did Philip ever claim that he could forgive sins ? 
"No," says the trembling Myers. What then do you 
mean, you verbal and inane phenomenon, by this ex- 
travagant assertion? "I don't know," says the convicted 
Myers. If the origin of this invention were ferreted out, 
it might be found that a man on College Hill dreamed it ; 
and as there are persons who believe in dreams, though 
they disbelieve "divine interpositions," and love to re- 
peat them, this one was published. 

Scholars, learn a lesson from this experience. Of 
the dreams of visionaries, of the ravings of fanatics, 
and of the mis judgments and misinterpretations of bigots, 
are the charges and insinuations against the Church fab- 
ricated. A little investigation dispels the illusion, and 
discloses the author involved in dishonorable entangle- 
ments. 

Assassination of the Prince of Orange. — 

Myers — "The character of William the Silent is one 
of the most admirable portrayed in all history." 

Comment — If he merited the title "Double-Dealer" 
which the author says he received ; and was so given to the 
"habit of dissimulation that the Southern provinces would 
not trust him, we can hardly regard him as "one of the 
most admirable characters portrayed in all history." But 
did he deserve the appellation "Double-Dealer?" He sure- 
ly was full of duplicity. Janssens says, p. 31 9, Vol. 4 : "In 
the year 1572 Counts John and Lewis of Nassau went to 
Archbishop Saleutin of Cologne, and wanted him, as 



246 MISTAKES AND MISS'rATli;Mi;NTS. 

the nearest neighbor of the Netherlands, to obtain from 
the King of Spain for their brother, the Prince of Orange, 
an annual revenue equal to the value of the confiscated 
property. 'If the King,' they declared, 'consents to this 
plan, the Prince is ready to w^ithdraw voluntarily from 
the Netherlands, and never again to enter them. He 
further offers to deliver to the King all the cities which 
have rebelled, and to restore the Catholic faith in them.' " 
How is that for duplicity! Gachard says the Prince sent 
for Elbert Leoninus, one of the most famous professors 
of Ivouvairi University, and told him among other things 
that, "if he could gain the King's favor or the Pope's, he 
would go down on both knees to receive their commands." 
Morillon, who communicated this to Cardinal Granvelle 
on the 16th of December, 1572, added : "So far as I 
can perceive, he would become a Catholic to recover his 
property." 

The Prince's ambition was to establish a Republic 
with himself at its head; but while using Protestantism 
as a means, it is doubtful that he loved it as a religion. As 
to the ban, legal authorities admit the right of King 
Philip to proceed against the Prince as he did : he was 
an outlaw in open rebellion. 

Prince Maurice : Sir Philip Sidney. — 
Progress of the War: Treaty of 1G09. — 

Myers — "The treaty of 1609 was in reality an ac- 
knowledgment by Spain of the independence of the United 
Provinces of the Netherlands. * * * * Thus ended, after 
a continuance of about forty-one years, one of the most 
memorable contests of which history has to tell, one 
of the most heroic struggles that men ever maintained 
against ecclesiastical and civil despotism." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATliMKNTS. 247 

Comment — There is no more reason for calling Philip's 
arbitrary measures ecclesiastical despotism, than there is 
for styling Myers' anti-Catholic diatribes, ecclesiastical 
despotism. Philip was not more an ecclesiastic than is 
Myers. He tried, indeed, to ally himself with Cath- 
olics, and to identify his cause with the cause of Cath-- 
olicity, and that from motives selfish and political; 
very much as Mr. Myers makes common cause with 
Protestantism to popularize his book and increase its sale. 

Philip's spirit, save that he was on the opposite side, 
resembles that of Mr. Myers. Both are narrow and in- 
tolerant, but the latter lacks the power the former pos- 
sessed. Woe to the Catholics of Ohio were P. V. N. M. 
their absolute monarch. 

Development of the Provinces During the War. — 

Myers — "The contrast * * * * between the United 
Provinces of the North and the 'obedient provinces of the 
South, is a most striking and instructive commentary on 
the advantages of freedom over despotism. The South- 
ern provinces presented a scene of almost utter ruin 
* * * *the 'rebel provinces' had increased * * * rapidly 
in population." 

Comment — And so the ruin of the South and the 
prosperity of the North ; the southern decrease in popula- 
tion, and the northern increase ; all this the author would 
have us believe was due to the Catholicity of the one, 
and the Protestantism of the other. For shame! Mr. 
Myers, for shame ! We ask you, which country was the 
battle-field of the contending armies? Was it not the 
southern provinces? They certainly were, and thus were 
they ruined, as Mr. Myers well knows. The constant 



248 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

fighting also drove out the inhabitants of the South, and 
many of them unwilHng to quit their native land, set- 
tled in the northern cities, thus populating the North and 
depopulating the South. If Catholicity ruined a country, 
Belgium which is one of the most Catholic countries 
in the world, would not now be prosperous ; and if Cath- 
olicity depopulated lands, Belgium would not be the most 
densely settled of all civilized countries. 

Myers — "No idlers or beggars were allowed a place 
in the industrious little commonwealth. Monasteries, 
convents, and abbeys were converted into charitable in- 
stitutions for the unfortunate, for invalid soldiers, and 
for the children of those that fell in their country's serv- 
ice." 

Comment — Mr. Myers must blot out the Command- 
ment that says: "Thou shalt not steal," before he can 
justify the forcible seizure and confiscation of monastic 
property. He cares not whether God be worshiped or 
not; he applauds the denial to Catholics oi the right tc 
hold property; let only that nondescript thing, called 
progress, be attained. And this is the spirit of toleration, 
and the civil and religious freedom which the Reforma- 
tion introduced? Why, the English language must un- 
dergo a reformation, and words convey another mean- 
ing, before any but imbeciles and lunatics will admit the 
author's boasts. 



CHAPTER V. 

The Huguenot Wars in France. 
The Renaissance in France. — 

Myers — "The forerunner of the Reformation in 
France, as ahnost everywhere else, was the Renaissance." 

Comment — And we see no other reason for the connec- 
tion than that the Renaissance was the revival of pagan- 
ism in learning, and the Reformation was the revival of 
paganism in religion, as the event to-day everywhere 
discloses. — Protestant nations lapsing into infidelity. For 
example, the United States was certainly a Protestant 
nation a century ago : now, of 75,000,000 population, only 
29,000,000 are church-members, and of these 10,000,000 
are Catholics. The remaining 46,000,000 profess no Chris- 
tian faith. Religious conditions in England, Holland, 
Scandinavia, and other Protestant countries are not more 
edifying. 

Myers — "It is the changed tone of French literature 
that we would especially note. As the representative of 
its freer and more skeptical spirit, stands the famous 
Rabelais." 

Comment — Heretofore Mr. Myers has been trying to 
identify freedom with the Reformation; now he asso- 
ciates freedom with skepticism, or doubt: "freer and more 
skeptical." The next logical move will be to league free- 
dom with atheism and materialism. Then there will 
remain but one step more to be made, take up the cause 

249 



250 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

of Lucifer with Voltaire, Ingersoll, and Tom Paine, and 
contend for absolute independence from God. 

Myers — -"Rabelais' most noted work is a sort of po- 
litical romance, in which he attacks particular!}^ the eccle- 
siastics with the keenest satire and raillery." 

Comment — We would commend to the attention of 
Mr. Myers the fact that atheists, skeptics, and heretics, as 
well as bad Catholics and criminals generally, as by a nat- 
ural instinct, both hate and ridicule the Church, her mys- 
teries and ministers. It is in fulfillment of a prophecy. 
Said Christ to his disciples : "Because you are not of 
the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, 
therefore the world hateth you." 

Myers — "Baird * * * * makes the progress of let- 
ters, quickening intelligence and widening information, 
one of the chief causes of the rapid spread in France of the 
doctrines of the reformers." 

Comment — Mr. Baird is as unsound in his reason- 
ing as is Mr. Myers. "By their fruits you shall know 
them." The French Huguenots have produced no books 
comparable with the profound productions of Catholics in 
even mediaeval times. 

TJie Reformation in France. — 

Myers — "Intellectual enfranchisement — we cannot too 
often repeat it — is sure to lead to religious freedom." 

Comment — But though he repeat it until he is black 
in the face, and his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth, 
and his lungs refuse to supply the necessary quantity of 
wind, the assertion will not have lost one whit of its 
absurdity. Why, facts more bold to the view than the 



MISTAKES AND MiSStAl^RMKNTS. 251 

Himalaya range, and more numerous than its countless 
peaks, brand the statement as false and preposterous. 
Have the learned infidels who have cursed the world with 
their writings, promoted "religious freedom?" Not at 
all. Our Saviour lays down the condition of acciuiring 
freedom : "When the Son shall have made you free, you 
shall be free indeed;" free from the domination of pas- 
sion; free from hate; free from intolerance. This is the 
true foundation of religious liberty. 

The Reformed Faith Under Francis L and Henry II. — 

Comment — This article treats of the persecution of 
Protestant subjects by Catholic sovereigns. It is true 
as related that Francis I. and Henry H. persecuted heret- 
ics, but it must not be imagined that sovereigns who 
would not keep either the Commandments of God or of 
his Church were actuated by the love of either to at- 
tempt to eradicate heresy from their Kingdom. They 
were simply contending against an influence that threat- 
ened to disaffect their subjects and disintegrate the na- 
tion. Francis was ever ready to fight for or against the 
Pope, as his selfish ambition might suggest; and both 
he and Henry, while persecuting Protestants in France, 
were favoring them in Germany. 

Francis II. — 

Catherine de Medici and the Guises. — 

The Bourbon Princes and Admiral Colignv. — • 

The Conspiracy of Aniboise. — 

The Massacre of Vassy. — 

Comment — Religious differences originated the dis- 
putes and contentions between the Huguenots and Cath- 



252 MIS'rAKE;S AND MISSTA'I'EMENI'S. 

olics, but they had httle or nothing to do with causing 
or continuing the series of plots, massacres, and bloody 
wars that followed. One crime provoked another, and 
as plots and counterplots, attacks and retaliations, multi- 
plied and were intensified, the hatred of the contestants 
became extreme. Religious doctrines and differences 
were forgotten, and injuries endured alone were remem- 
bered. The parties seldom fought for a principle, but to 
satisfy ambition, or gratify revenge. Thus should be 
explained the " Conspiracy of Amboise," the "Massacre 
of Vassy," the "Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day," 
and many other catastrophes of like nature. 

Character of the War. — 

The Treaty of St. Germain. — 

The Massacre of St. Bartholomezvs Day. — 

Myers — "On the evening of that day (x\ug. 23rd, 
1572,) Catherine went to her son, and represented tc 
him that the Huguenots had formed a plot for the as- 
sassination of the royal family and the leaders of the Cath- 
olic party, and that the utter ruin of their house and 
cause could be averted only by the immediate destruction 
of the Protestants within the city walls." 

Comment — Catherine was not actuated by religious 
hate, for she was rather Protestant than Catholic. The 
King was not impelled by religious animosity, but reluct- 
antly yielded to the persuasion of his mother. All that 
remains to disprove the charge of religious persecution 
is to show that they who executed the King's orders 
were not influenced thereto by considerations of religion. 

Myers — "At a preconcerted signal * * * * the Cath-_ 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 263 

olics * * * * fell upon the Huguenots, and massacred 
* * * * all previously marked for slaughter." 

Comment — The attackmg party fell upon Huguenots 
and other Catholics. The massacre was not confined 
to the Huguenots ; which fact clearly shows that religion 
did not provoke the trouble, nor determine the victims. 

Myers — "The head of Coligny was cut off and sent 
to Rome as a present to the Pope and the Cardinal of 
Lorraine." 

Comment — If lying were punished with decapitation, 
we fear that Mr. Myers would soon go headless. It is 
a pity that a historian can be found to keep in circulation 
such falsehoods. 

Myers — "With the noble-hearted Coligny expired the 
last hope of the French Reformation." 

Comment — The ''noble-hearted" Coligny should have 
reformed himself before attempting the reformation of 
the French people. He never succeeded in freeing him- 
self from the imputation of having caused the assassina- 
tion of Duke Francis of Guise. 

Myers — "King Charles himself is said to have joined 
in the work, and from one of the windows of the Palace 
of the Louvre to have fired upon the Huguenots as they 
fled past." 

Comment — There is no good foundation for this ru- 
mor. The fiction was introduced into a French drama for 
stage effect, and thus became a popular error. 

Myers — "The entire number of victims throughout 
the country was probably between 20,000 and 30,000." 

Comment — According to the Huguenot Martyrology 
it is claimed that 15,168 victims fell in twelve principal 



254 MISTAKliS AND MlSSTAfElMENTS. 

cities in France, but the names of onl}^ ^SG could be ob- 
tained. As there is no good reason for thinking that 
the names of all the victims could not be learned, the lat- 
ter number probably includes all. 

Myers — "With the capital cleared of Huguenots, or- 
ders were issued to the principal cities of France to purge 
themselves in like manner of heretics." 

Comment — On the night of the massacre the King 
sent orders to all governors of provinces and cities to 
take measures to prevent similar occurrences in their dis- 
tricts. 

Mye;rs — "Queen Elizabeth put her court in mourn- 
ing, and her council denounced the slaughter as 'the most 
heinous act that had occurred in the world since the 
crucifixion of Jesus Christ.' " 

Comment — Yet Queen Elizabeth herself murdered 
more victims than did all the bloody crowd in St. Barthol- 
omew's Massacre. She slew more men, better men, more 
cruelly, with a more malicious spirit, and with less provo- 
cation. "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone." 

MviiRS — "The Protestants in the Netherlands ''^ * * * 
were plunged almost into despair." 

Comment — Less affected by the massacre than by the 
loss of help they had expected. 

Myers — "At Rome the Pope returned public thanks 
to God for his manifest favor to the Church." 

Comment — If a liar should be beaten with stripes, with 
what scorpions should not righteous indignation pursue 
and castigate the deliberate historical falsifier? Mr. 
Myers doubtless well knows that the Pope was informed 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATI^MENTS. 255 

at first only of the French King's escape from a con- 
spiracy to take his hfe. Having no knowledge whatever 
of the awful massacre, he granted the request of Cardinal 
of Lorraine, and directed that, in conformity with the 
time-honored custom at Rome, public thanks should be 
rendered to God for the safety of the royal family. We 
say that Mr. Myers doubtless well knows this fact, be- 
cause it is a matter of history; as is also the severe de- 
nunciation with which the Pope condemned the awful 
crime, when the full account had reached him. 

Mye;rs — '"The Pope had a medal struck, bearing on 
one side his own effigy, and on the other a picture of a 
destroying angel slaying the Huguenots." 

Comment — The above explanation knocks the legs 
from under this charge, and simply proves how disingenu- 
ous a writer can be. 

A word as to the Huguenots — The loyal French had 
many reasons for hating them, and especially did Charles 
and his mother both hate and fear them, for they had 
become a dangerous and formidable political faction an- 
tagonistic to the crown. There is no doubt that they 
had often plotted to kidnap and assassinate the king; 
they had drawn entire provinces into rebellion; they had 
repeatedly refused to pay the customary taxes; and had 
introduced foreign troops, and such disorder into France 
as had not been witnessed since the fourteenth century. 
Charles, enraged at these things, and exhorted by his 
mother, consented to the massacre. It was hastily con 
trived and quickly executed. That it was not prompted 
by religious hate is evident from the statement con- 
tained in the Calvinist Martyrology that many of the 
Huguenots were sent for safety to the convents of the 



17- 



250 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Celestine and Franciscan orders ; and that Catholic bish- 
ops, and notably the Bishop of Lisieux, saved many who 
afterward returned in a body to the Catholic faith. We 
do not seek to excuse or palliate the crime, but to place 
the blame where it should be placed. 

As to the crocodile tears of the treacherous Eliza- 
beth, suffice it to say, that had the Huguenots dwelt in 
England she would speedily have put them to torture and 
to death in punishment, not only of their political machi- 
nations, but especially for their violation of the "Act of 
Uniformity." 

Myers — "Charles' body was often bathed in a bloody 
sweat, and visions of the slaughtered Huguenots con- 
stantly haunted his troubled sleep." 

Comment — The fable about the bloody sweat was 
taken from the drama referred to above, the writer of 
which says that he is not telling facts, but writing to in- 
terest. An eminent physician who examined the case, 
says that the discoloration of the skin was due to a con- 
dition that often attends pulmonary disease, of which 
afifection Charles died after a lingering illness. 

Reign of Henry III. — 

Myers — "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day, 
instead of exterminating heresy in France, only served to 
rouse the Huguenots to a more determined defense of 
their faith." 

Comment — From an heretical sect the Huguenots had 
lapsed into a turbulent political faction. They doubtless 
hated the French government and the Catholic Church 
incomparably more than they loved Calvinism. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 257 

IMyKRS — "In 1589, the King " * * * was struck 
down by the avenging dagger of a fanatic Dominican 
monk." 

Comuient — The monk was probably insane, for he be- 
Heved that he had been commissioned by God to kill the 
King. 

Accession of Henry IV. — 

Myers — "Nor did Henry secure without a struggle 
the crown that was his by right." 

Comment — The crown was no one's by right : it was 
elective. But the coronation oath of the French required 
that the King defend the Catholic faith and worship ; and 
the national constitution required that the King be him- 
self a Catholic ; and Pope Sixtus V. to whom the matter 
was referred, decided that according to the fundamental 
laws of the realm, a heretic was unqualified to rule over 
France. The constitution required Catholicity for eligi- 
bility, as the English constitution requires Protestantism, 
and our constitution native Americanism. How then can 
Mr. Myers say that Henry of Navarre had a right to the 
crown ? 

Henry Turns Catholic. — 

The Edict of Nantes. — 

Character of Henry H^.'s Reign. : His Plans and Death. — 

Louis XHI : the Regency. — 

Cardinal Richelieu and His Policy. — 

Myers — "Richelieu's own words best indicate how 
he proposed to use his double authority as cardinal and 



258 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

prime minister: 'I shall trample all opposition under 
foot, and then cover all errors with my scarlet robe.' " 

Comment — The Church in no way approved the Car- 
dinal's abuse of power, and we shall not defend him. 
His main purpose was to strengthen, not the Church, but 
France; be strove less to promote religion than mon- 
archial power; he was much more a politician than an 
ecclesiastic; much more a prime minister than a cardinal. 

Political Pozver of the Huguenots Crushed. — 

Richelieu and the Thirty Years' War. — 

Myers — "Although Richelieu had just crushed French 
Protestantism, he now gives aid to the Protestant princes 
of Germany." 

Comment — Which fact proves the truth of what we 
have just said, that Cardinal Richelieu loved France more 
than he loved the Church. 



CHAPTER, VI. 

Thi; Thirty Years' War. 

Nature and Causes of the War. — ' ■ 

Myers — (By the Religious Peace of Augsburg), 
"Each secular prince was given permission to set up in his 
dominions either the Catholic or the Lutheran Church, and 
to drive out all persons v/ho did not accept the State 
creed. This provision gave rise to much tyranny, and 
created great bitterness of feeling between the different 
religious sects, — Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinists." 

Comment — Catholicism is not more a sect than is Mr. 
Myers a section ; and we trust that he, with all his de- 
fects, is a whole man. A religious sect is a society of 
dissenters, while the Catholic Church is integral Chris- 
tianity. 

The Evangelical Union and the Holy League. — 

Myers — "Rudolf IL, the third in succession from 
Charles V., unfortunately was just the opposite of his 
two predecessors, being a bigoted and intolerant Catholic." 

Comment — To be denounced as a bigot by a bigot, is 
complimentary rather than condemnatory. A Catholic 
prince in Reformation times who does not receive casti- 
gation at the hands of the author, was tniworthy of his 
faith. As to Rudolf's having been "instigated by the 
Jesuits" to extirpate Protestantism (we presume by fire 
and sword), — it is a flower plucked in dreamland; of 
which kind of ornament the author has many bouquets. 

259 



260 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

The Beginning of the War. — 

Myers — "A church which the Protestants maintained 
they had a right to build * * * * was torn down by the 
CathoHcs, and another was closed." 

Comment — They were suppressed because they had 
been erected in direct violation of the "Royal Charter." 
Protestant hostihties are not justified by the suppression 
of the two churches. 

Suppression of the Bohemian Protestants. — 

Myers — "Though Ferdinand was well known as a 
violent and bigoted Catholic, the three Protestant electors 
cast their votes for him." 

Comment — When a Protestant prince is active and 
successful, our author calls him gallant ; but when a Cath- 
olic prince displays like qualities, he is called violent. So, 
too, if a Protestant ruler is constant to his purpose, he 
is styled faithful ; while a Catholic leader of fixed resolve, 
is called bigoted and fanatical. The student will find that, 
as a rule, Mr. Myers' estimate of Catholics is the very op- 
posite of correct. 

Ferdinand II. would have reduced the Protestant 
princes to submission, and healed the schism between 
northern and southern Germany, had not France for 
political reasons, thrown her power and influence on 
the Protestant side against him, and forced the Peace of 
Westphalia. But for a time he was very successful. 

Myers — "The Catholics finally obtained possession 
of all the churches and schools of the exiled sect." ^ 

Comment — But does not Mr. Myers remember that 
these were the very churches and schools which the ex- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 261 

iled sect had seized from the Catholics ? And why does 
he record the fact of the CathoHcs acquiring them, with- 
out recording the justification of the acquisition? Why 
does he not say that it was a case of restoration of 
stolen property? To have a weak memory may at 
times be very convenient, but it is not always honorable. 

King of Denmark Champions the German Protestants. — 

Wallenstcin and His System. — 

Defeats and Losses of tJie Protestants. — 

Peace of Lneheck. — 

The Edict of Restitution. — 

Myers — "Germany was now completely subjected to 
the Emperor. Throughout the South the persistent and 
relentless measures of Ferdinand and the Jesuits had 
re-established the Roman Catholic worship. The same 
thing was now to be effected in the North. By what is 
known as the Edict of Restitution, Ferdinand restored 
to the Catholics all the ecclesiastical lands and founda- 
tions of which possession had been taken by the Protest- 
ants since the Treaty of Passau. This decree gave back 
to the Roman Church two archbishoprics, twelve bishop- 
rics, besides many monasteries and other ecclesiastical 
foundations. The edict was not, it is true, contrary to the 
strict letter of the Ecclesiastical Reservation of the Peace 
of Augsburg." 

Comment — Then what is the author sniffling about? 
If the edict was in conformity with the Ecclesiastical Res- 
ervation, as it was with the Seventh Commandment, 
where is the room for complaint? Is the author angry 



262 MISTAKES AND MISS'rATE;ME;NTS. 

because the Jesuits, whom he seems to love as the devil 
loves holy water, urged the enforcement of the law? 
But what was the law, the operation T)f which worked 
so great hardship? It was an edict requiring the rob- 
.bers to disgorge the booty. 

Mr. Myers condemns the edict, and calls P'erdinand 
a Shylock, because restitution was hard on the robbers. 
Bigotry must have gone to seed when it compels an author 
to espouse the cause of criminals. 

Wallenstein Removed Prom Command. — 

Myi;rs — "Though Ferdinand was very loth to part 
with a general who had rendered his cause such emi- 
nent service as had Wallenstein, he was nevertheless 
forced to yield to the solicitations and threats of the 
Jesuits and the League, and remove the general from his 
command." 

Comment — It must have been hard for Mr. Myers 
to admit that the Jesuits really were on the side of mercy, 
and urgent in their solicitations that the oppressed peo- 
ple should be relieved by the dismissal of the successful 
general, and the cessation of the enormous contributions 
that he exacted ; but that they may not altogether escape, 
he tells us that they even threatened the emperor, leav- 
ing the reader to infer how unpriestly and scandalous 
that must have been. 

Gustavus Adolphus. — 

Comment — While Gustavus Adolphus professed to 
seek only "the glory of God, and the honor and .well- 
being of Christians," his proclamation still extant, to the 
Germans, proves that his real object was to place a 



mistake;s and misstatements. 263 

Protestant prince (most likely himself) at the head of 
the empire. His entire conduct and policy show con- 
clusively that this was his real design. He forced the 
citizens of Augsburg to take the oath of allegiance to 
the crown of Sweden. He proposed to regard the -states 
of the Elector Frederic of the Palatinate as fiefs of the 
Swedish Crown; and declined to reinstate that prince 
unless he would consent to hold them as such. Do not 
these acts disclose his motives? The truth is, it was 
ambition, rather than "strong religious convictions and 
sympathies," that led him across the Baltic. 

The Siege and Sack of Magdeburg. — 

Myers — "Tilly was besieging the city of Magdeburg, 
which had dared to resist the Edict of Restitution. * * "^^ 
In a short time the city was obliged to surrender, and was 
given up to sack and pillage." 

Comment — It is probable that Mr. Myers drained his 
lachrymal glands to the last drop in weeping over the 
fate of the Magdeburgers, while composing his graphic 
and feeling description of the city's ruin. But let us clear 
away the mist of sorrow, and look calmly at facts. Mag- 
deburg was the robber city — the stronghold of sacrileg- 
ious thieves — who having confiscated Catholic Church 
property, refused to restore it, and dared defy the im- 
perial mandate. It must be remembered, too, that in 
those days death was often the punishment for theft and 
treason, and the Magdeburgers' crimes were sacrilegious 
theft, and civil rebellion. Children were thrown into 
the flames, we are told ; and infants were stabbed at 
their mothers' breast. We are not surprised, for we re- 
member that English soldiers in Ireland have often 



264 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

amused themselves with throwing babies into the air, and 
catching them upon bayonets. The infamous barbarities 
of Cromwell's pra3dng army, and of William of Orange's 
freedom-loving followers, have never been surpassed, even 
by the Indians ; and they sometimes were inflicted in 
punishment of really no crime. 

On the contrar}^, the resistance of Magdeburg was 
treason, as her seizure of Church property was theft 
and sacrilege. 

Tilly was not by nature a savage, but he led a wild 
and turbulent army, and doubtless was unable at times 
to restrain them. 

The author complains that the conquering army sang 
the "Te Deum;" but he should know that they did so 
in thanksgiving for the victory, not because of the con- 
flagration, much less on account of the carnage. War, 
at the best, is a bloody and repulsive thing, but when only 
its shocking features are disclosed and whatever could 
relieve the livid horror is concealed, the scene becomes 
ten-fold revolting. 

Success of Giistavus. — 

Myers — "Attempting to dispute his march, Tilly was 
again defeated, and he himself received a fatal wound." 

Comment — His dying words were : "In thee, O Lord, 
have I put my trust, let me not be confounded forever." 
We think that our author has misjudged the character 
of Tilly. 

WaUcnstcin Restored to Command. — 
Battle of Liitzen: Death of Gustavns. — ■ 

Myers — "Throwing himself into the thick of the fight, 
Gustavus was struck down by a ball * * * * Thiis fell 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 265 

tlie noble Gustavus Adolphus. * * =^ * Beyond all dis- 
pute, his is the most heroic and admirable character with 
which we meet in all the records of the Thirty Years' 
War." 

Comment — We confidently dispute the author's last 
statement. Gustavus displayed great craft as a states- 
man, and consummate ability as a general ; but his char- 
acter was admirable for greatness rather than for good- 
ness. Not for a moment had he any intention to establish 
in Germany either civil or religious liberty. "He was 
too fond of war," says the author; and "was over-am- 
bitious of militray glory." Yes, he was devoured by am- 
bition. "He was also unselfishly devoted to his country," 
continues the author. He was an absolute monarch, and 
regarded his subjects as chattels or tools. "He was ar- 
dently attached to the cause of Protestantism." Not if 
attachment to Protestantism requires detachment from 
self; for the fact is evident — Gustavus Adolphus was a 
selfish monarch. 

The Assassination of Wallenstein. — 

Myers — "Ferdinand was embarrassed by the suspic- 
ious movements of his general Wallenstein. There is 
good reason to believe that he was at this moment medi- 
tating the betrayal of the imperial cause. He was cer- 
tainly in communication with the Protestant leaders, and 
the crown of Bohemia had been mentioned as the reward 
of his treachery. * * * * Ferdinand * * * * ordered 
the arrest of the traitor, as he firmly believed him to be. 
But Wallenstein was too formidable an enemy to be cap- 
tured alive, and he was consequently murdered by three 
assassins, who fell upon him unexpectedly in his bed- 
chamber," 



266 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — The killing of Wallenstein would have 
been lawful, had they who killed him been commissioned 
by the emperor, which they had not. They acted with- 
out authority, and were murderers and assassins. A 
traitor too powerful to be publicly apprehended may law- 
fully be killed privately by a person or persons properly 
authorized. The departure from the regular method of 
procedure is justified by necessity. 

The War Assumes More of a European Character. — 

The Treaty of Westphalia. — 

Myers — "Every prince was to have the right to make 
his religion the religion of his people, and to banish 
all who refused to adopt the established creed. * * * * 
Not any of the Protestant governments, it should be 
added, ever exercised this right." 

Comment — Why not? Was it fear, indifiference, or 
policy, that restrained them? Principle it was not. 

Effects of the War Upon Germany. — 

Myers — " 'In character, in intelligence and in moral- 
ity, the German people were set back two hundred years.' " 

Comment — And who was responsible for the disaster? 
The Protestants, who were "trying to introduce a new 
religion, and to seize and appropriate the Church property 
of Catholics? or the Catholics, who were fighting for 
the maintenance of the ancient religion, the Church be- 
queathed by Christ, and for the retention of their eccle- 
siastical estate? It should not be difficult to fix the 
blame. 



MisTAKijs AND a'[isstate;mi;nts. 267 

Conclusion. — 

MyDrs — "We do not mean to convey the idea that 
the work of the Protestant Revohition, in the direction 
of religious toleration, was done. As a matter of fact, 
no real toleration had yet been reached." 

Comment — Then why did the author write : "Not any 
of the Protestant governments, it should be added, ever 
exercised the right * * * * to make its religion the re- 
ligion of the people, and to banish all who refused to 
adopt the established creed," except it were that the reader 
should infer that the Protestant governments were act- 
uated by the spirit of toleration ? 

The author declares that the work of Protestant re- 
ligious toleration was not yet done, because it had not 
yet been begun. No man will dispute the logic of this 
argument. A work cannot be completed before it is 
commenced. Neither had it been attempted, or even de- 
sired, by them. We add, that the Protestant Reforma- 
tion has been introduced into no country but by the op- 
pression of the Catholic people, and the confiscation of 
their property. Never did the reformers dream of tol- 
eration until they went to colonize lands in which there 
was an established religion different from their own. 

Myers — "It required the broadening and liberalizing 
lessons of another full century to bring men to see that 
the thing they must do is the very thing they ought to 
(Jo, — to make men tolerant not only in outward conduct, 
but in spirit." 

Comment — He who hates not sin, loves not virtqe. 
The charity by which we love God, makes us hate what 
offends God; and he who is not saddened by the daily 



268 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

spectacle of evil, has little love of God. Now, heresy is 
one of the most prevalent, as it is one of the greatest, 
sins against God, and evils in society; and he who is 
tolerant of it is a traitor to God, and an enemy of man- 
kind. Intolerance of heresy should not, indeed, make 
us intolerant of heretics; but zeal requires that we do 
what we can to prevent heresy, or to remove it — to save 
our neighbor if we can. The Catholic princes were obliged 
in conscience to employ all lawful means to prevent the 
introduction into their realms of heretical principles, the 
root of infinite social evils. This, both charity and the 
civil law demanded. But now that the evil has been in- 
troduced, and grown inveterate; and as many heretics 
know no better, no Catholic prince of a truly Catholic 
state, did such to-day exist, could employ force without 
manifest injustice and cruelty. Efforts to coerce the sub- 
ject, against the dictates of his conscience, is religious 
persecution, and has ever been condemned by the Church. 



FOURTH PERIOD. 

The Era of the Political Revolution. 

CHAPTER I. 

The Ascendency oe France Under the Absolute 
Government oe Louis XIV. 

The Divine Right of Kings. — 

Comment — The theory of "the divine right of kings 
and passive obedience," holds that the monarch is respon- 
sible to God for the use he may make of his power; but 
it denies that he is responsible to the nation or justiciable 
by the people. It denies to the nation or the people all 
right of resistance, not simply to legitimate authority, 
but to tyranny and oppression. 

Another theory, the European democratic theory, 
makes the persons invested with authority responsible in- 
deed, but to the people alone, and asserts for the peo- 
ple the right to resist their rulers at any time, in any 
way, and for any reason, the}^ please. It divests gov- 
ernment of all moral sanction, deprives obedience of all 
religious obligation, and makes civil obedience a mere 
question of expediency, and results necessarily in mob- 
ocracy, to use a barbarous term, anarchy, or the despot- 
ism of the majority. 

The other theory, which is doubtless the true one, 
makes rulers responsible to God, as all men are, and 
also to the nation, or to the people. To the people, be- 
cause they receive their investiture from them, and to 

269 



270 MISTAKElS AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

God, because the power with which they are clothed is 
from him, and remains his. 

The doctrine of "the divine right of kings and pas- 
sive obedience" is Protestant in origin and was brought 
to its fuhest and most systematic developments, in Eng- 
land, in the seventeenth century. It crossed the Channel, 
into France, where it found a few hesitating and stam- 
mering defenders among Catholics under Louis XIV. It 
was ably refuted by the Jesuit Suarez in his reply to a 
"Remonstrance for the Divine Right of Kings," by James 
I. of England ; but even the Anglican divines abandoned 
it in the Revolution of 1688 that expelled James II,. and 
crowned William and Mary. A Spanish monk who had 
asserted it in Madrid, under Philip II., was compelled by 
the Inquisition to retract it publicly in the place where 
he had asserted it. 

If the Church has always asserted with St. Paul that 
there is no power but from God, she has always main- 
tained that it is a trust to be exercised for the public 
good, and is forfeited when persistently exercised in a 
contrary sense. 

Myers — "According to this theory * * * * under no 
circumstances is it right for them (the subjects) to rebel 
against his authority, any more than for children to rise 
against their father." 

Comment — So Mr. Myers asserts the divine right of 
parents, and denies the divine right of kings ; and teaches 
that no matter what a father may do, the children may 
not withstand him. We fear that the author is radically 
and hopelessly wrong on both points. 

The Basis of Louis XIV. 's Poiver. — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATljMKNTS. 271 

Tlie AduiUiistration of Mazarin. — 

Louis XIV. Assumes the Govcrnuicnt. — 

Colbert. — 

The Wars of Louis XIV. — 

The War Concerning the Spanish Ncthcrkinds. — 

The War With Holland.— 

Louis is Called Great. — 

The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. — 

Comment — Louis XIV. professed Gallicanism, which 
teaches that secular authority is independent of spiritual 
authority — the very doctrine that we think Mr. Myers 
holds, if, indeed, he believes at all in spiritual authority. 
Louis was on the verge of breaking with the Church, and 
running into schism, as did Henry VIIL of England. 
At the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes he 
was at open war with the Pope. Had he been a loyal 
son of the Church, he would have consulted the Pope, 
and would have been advised not to revoke the Edict. 
Louis in his severity toward the Huguenots was inspired 
by political motives. He wished to rid the kingdom of 
a colony within the state, that was not in sympathy with 
him or the French government.- However, his conduct 
can reflect no discredit upon the Church, and no Catho- 
lic is obliged to apologize for it. 

Myers — ^"By this cruel measure all the Protestant 
churches were closed, and every Huguenot who refused 
to embrace the Roman Catholic faith was outlawed." 

Comment — The same thing has been done against 
Catholics, time and again, in the reigns of Henry VHL, 

18- 



272 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Edward, and Elizabeth, and in the same country even at 
a much later period. The Irish Catholics have been so 
treated until very recently. 

Myers — "Many of the fugitive Huguenots found vil- 
timately a refuge in America ; and no other class of emi- 
grants, save the Puritans of England, cast 

'Such healthful leaven 'mid the elements 
That peopled the new world.' " 

Comment — The Huguenots have largely lapsed into 
infidelity, as all heretics are prone to do. As to the Puri- 
tans, no other sect has ever shown a more promising 
spring-time, or a more barren autumn. The Puritan was 
rigid enough in moral exactions ; and while he was ab- 
sorbed in his war against the Church, and in clearing 
away the forests, subduing the soil, making himself a 
home in the wilderness, and defending it against his 
savage enemies, he succeeded in keeping himself for the 
most part, exteriorly at least, within the limits of the 
moral law. 

But with the relaxation of the struggle, the growth of 
wealth and luxury, discipline was relaxed, and Puritan 
morality broke down. It never had any interior life, 
and when its exterior supports were knocked from under 
it, nothing remained to sustain it. 

The failure of Puritanism has very naturally been 
followed by a fearful reaction of vice and immorality. 
By condemning celibacy, by sneering at virginity, and by 
reducing marriage from a sacrament to a civil contract, 
dissoluble by the order of the civil magistrate, Puritanism 
undermined the domestic virtues, on which public. virtue 
and the very existence of society depend, and perverted 
both the public and private conscience. 



MISI^AKKS AND MISSTAT^MI^NTS. 273 

The War of the Palatinate. — 
IVar of the Spanish Succession. — 
Death of the King. — 
The Court of Louis XIV. — 
Literature Under Louis XIV. — 
Decline of the French Monarchy Under Louis XV. — 



CHAPTER II. 

England Under the: Stuarts : The; English 
Revolution. 

I. The First Two Stuarts. 

1. Reign oe James the First. 

Union of the Crowns of Bngland and Scotland. — 

The King. — 

The "Divine Right" of Kings and the "Royal ToncJi". — 

Myers — "The King Avas believed to possess the power 
* * * * of heahng scrofulous persons by the laying on of 
hands." 

Comment — By whom was it believed that the Protes- 
tant King James had the power to cure scrofula? Cer- 
tainly not by Catholics ; and if believed by Protestants, 
their belief was not only superstitious, but contradictory 
of their doctrine that the age of miracles is past. This 
latter doctrine, with a phrase appended, is true : the age 
of miracles is past, for them. For the working of mira- 
cles, membership in the true Church is requisite. St. Ed- 
ward the Confessor wrought miracles ; and some, perhaps, 
of his saintly successors cured scrofula, or King's evil, 
by the laying on of hands. 

]\IyERS — " 'In the eyes of the English poor it was a 
visible, palpable attestation of the indefeasible sanctity of 
the royal line.' " 

274 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 275 

Comuicnt — By Catholics, the working of miracles is 
regarded as an argument, though not conclusive, of per- 
sonal sanctity; but we have never heard that it attested 
either the defeasible or "indefeasible sanctity of the royal 
line." 

Myers — " 'It placed the sovereignty entirely apart 
from the categories of mere human institutions.' " 

Comment — In the same way that the performance of a 
miracle by a pedagogue would place school-teaching "en- 
tirely apart from the categories of mere human institu- 
tions." Are all the externes of insane asylums willing 
to accept the argument ? 

However, it would be interesting to know whether 
Mr. Myers himself regards political sovereignty as a 
mere human institution. We judge from his writings 
that he would answer in the affirmative, and thereby 
prove his superficiality in the domain of politics. 

Arabella Stuart : Sir Walter Raleigh. — 
The Gfinpowder Plot. — 

Comment — The Catholics of England who had suf- 
fered untold persecutions during the preceding reign, 
had hoped for relief on the accession of James Stuart, 
whose Catholic mother had been the idol of her co-relig- 
ionists, and in whose cause many of them had bled. But, 
alas ! All the old terrible laws were re-enacted. Disap- 
pointment, despair, and resentment, at length drove to 
conspiracy twelve frenzied Catholics, every one of whom 
had personally suffered for his religion : and they re- 
solved to blow into eternity king, lords, and commons. 

The Catholic peer. Lord Mounteagle, whom the con- 
spirators wished to spare, and whom they warned not 



2, b MISTAKES AXD MISSTATEMENTS. 

to attend the session of Parliament on a certain day, 
fearing impending danger, disclosed the secret warning, 
and frustrated the plot. Xow you have the whole stor\- 
of the famous "Gunpowder Plot," for which more than 
a generation of English Catholics bled, and for which 
the Church will be accused so long as bigots shall write 
histor\", though not a score of men in the whole of Lon- 
don knew an}"thing of the conspiracy, prior to the general 
exposure. 

Colonics and Trade Settlements. — 

Myers — "In 1620 some Separatists, or Pilgrims, who 
had found in HoUand a temporary refuge from perse- 
cution, pushed across the Atlantic, and amidst heroic 
sufferings and hardships estabHshed the first settlement 
in Xew England, and laid the foundations of civil and 
religious libert\" in the new World." 

Comment — Is this man a fool, or a knave? The Pil- 
grim Fathers had absolutely no intention of founding a 
general colony, open to settlers of all creeds and na- 
tions. They did not invite, but professedly excluded, 
those who differed from them in religion. When persons 
of different rehgion came among them, they were warned 
off. If they did not go, they were sent away; if they 
returned, they were punished. After ^Ir. 3ilyers' fre- 
quent and enthusiastic encomiums on civil and religious 
libert}- we hardly expected to see him descend to this nar- 
row exclusiveness for a portrait of his idol. 

Canfesf Betzveen James and the Commons. — 
Literature and Science. — 

^Myers — "One of the most noteworthy literary labors 



MISTAKES AXD MISSTATEMENTS. 277 

of the reign under review was a new translation of the 
Bible, known as King James' Version. This royal ver- 
sion is the one in general use at the present day." 

Comment — The author should have added, — among 
Protestants. However, as to the necessity or utility of 
its production, we may be permitted to say that Protest- 
ants were in far greater need of an authority to explain 
to them the meaning of the old version, than they were 
of a new version unexplained, and for them, inexplica- 
ble. 

]\Iyers — "Bacon must be given the first place among 
the philosophers of the English speaking race. * * * * 
The schoolmen of the mediaeval age made little or no 
progress in the discovery of truth." 

Comment — Should the student who reads this eulog}' 
of Bacon and disparagement of the Schoolmen, learn in 
after years, something of Bacon's philosophy and the 
genius and services of the Schoolmen, he certainly will 
not envy the intellectual magnitude of the Sage of Col- 
lege Hill. 

It is true that Francis Bacon employed the inductive 
method in the prosecution of scientific discovery; but he 
did not invent the method, which is as old as the human 
mind. He met with some success in the domain of the 
natural sciences, but in philosophy, properly so called, 
he was a failure ; the school he founded being radically 
false and pernicious, and its tendency toward sensism. 

Bacon was not an original genius ; and in comparison 
with the Schoolmen, whether for native ability, intellectual 
attainments, or services, is almost microscopic. In all 
likelihood Islr. ]Myers comprehends neither the truth nor 



278 MISTAKliS AND MISSTATliMI' NTS. 

the error in Bacon's method, and is equally ignorant of 
the Schoolmen's theology. 

2. Rkign q]? Charlies thi; First. 
The Petition of Right. — 
Charles Rules Without Parliament. — 
John Hampden and Ship-Money. — 
The Covenanters. — 
The Long Parliament. — 
Charles' Attempt to Sei:se the Five Members. — 

Thi^ Civil War. 

The Beginning. — 

The Tzvo Parties. — 

Oliver Cromzvell and His "Ironsides." — 

Myers — "His regiment became famous under the 
name of 'Cromwell's Ironsides.' It was composed entirely 
of 'men of religion.' Swearing, drinking, and the usual 
vices of the camp were unknown among them." 

Comment — The usual vices were repressed, and were 
substituted by a morbidity and fanatic hate seldom, if ever, 
equalled in this world. The bloody outrages of this 
fanatic band suggest demoniacal possession. A more 
heartless army of intolerants never sullied the earth. Their 
savage cruelty in Ireland is a conclusive argument of their 
interior moral deformity. 

The Self-Denying Ordinance. — 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 279 

The "'Neiv Model."— 

Myers — "The army was reduced to 20,000 men — all 
honest, fervent, God-fearing, psalm-singing Puritans. * -^' * 
From Cromwell down to the lowest soldier of the 'New 
Model/ every man felt called of the Lord to strike down 
all forms of tyranny in Church and State." 

Comment — And directly you shall see how these 
wolves in sheeps' clothing, these psalm-singing fanatics, 
who "felt called of the Lord to strike down all forms 
of tyranny in Church and State,'' themselves struck down 
the very constitution of the State, expelled most tyran- 
nically and without a show of justice, a majority of the 
nation's representatives, and solemnly sanctioned mili- 
tary despotism. 

The Baffle of Naseby. — 

''Pride's Purge." — 

Trial and Bxeciition of fhe King. — 

n. Tpie Commonwealth. 

Establishment of the Coniinonzvcalth. — 

Troubles of the Commonzvealth. — 

War With Ireland. — 

Myers — "The savage cruelty displayed by Cromwell 
in crushing the Irish uprising will forever remain as a ter- 
rible stain upon his reputation." 

Comment — And the reputation of his soldiers, all 
of whom were "men of religion," "honest, fervent. God- 
fearing, psalm-singing Puritans." 



280 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — "Yet in his own mind he justified his act." 
Comment — And so has every murderer since the days 
of Cain. 

War With Scotland. — 

War With the Dutch. — 

Cronizvell Ejects the Long Parliament. — 

Myers — '"Cromwell demanded of Parliament their 
dissolution, and the calling of a new body. This they re- 
fused; whereupon, taking with him a body of soldiers, 
Cromwell went to the House, and after listening impa- 
tiently for a while to the debate, suddenly sprang to his 
feet, and with bitter reproaches, exclaimed : 'I will put 
an end to your prating. Get you gone; give place to 
better men. You are no Parliament. The Lord has done 
with you.' " 

Comment — This is the man who said long prayers, 
and "felt called of the Lord to strike down all forms 
of tyranny in Church and State." No sooner does he feel 
himself securely intrenched with power, than he arro- 
gates to himself unlimited authority, becomes the most 
tyrannical of tyrants, and excels in arbitrary caprice the 
high-handed measures of the King he murdered. Crom- 
well is a specimen of the revolutionists and religious re- 
formers. 

Cromivell's Ambition. — 

Myers — "The conviction of Cromwell was that he 
was called of God to lead the English nation out from 
under all royal tyranny and priestly despotism into the 
fullest civil and religious liberty." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 2S1 

Coiiiiiiciif — Cromwell was first, last, and all the time, a 
fanatic ; and fanaticism is a form of religious insanity, 
more or less culpable, the natural consequence of re- 
ligious enthusiasm undirected by authority. The more 
Cromwell read the Bible, interpreting it by private judg- 
ment, the more perverted did his judgment become; the 
more determined in error his resolution ; and the more 
dangerous to society his power. 

Praise-God Barchonc's Parliament. — 

]\IvERS — "What Cromwell wished was to secure to 
the English people civil and religious lil)ert)'." 

Conuiient — Then why did he not? lie did not wish to, 
for when he was at the head of the government, and 
could have carried out his desire had he ever entertained 
it, he refused to give civil and religious liberty to Catho- 
lics. 

The Protectorate. — 

ComiiienI — And now, young reader, I wish to im- 
press the following fact deeply in your mind : Protestant- 
ism on rejecting the Catholic Church as the teacher and 
guide, and appealing to man alone, in religious matters, 
had only two courses to adopt; either to suppose men 
to be inspired by heaven for the discovery of religious 
truths, or to subject all religious truths to the exami- 
nation of fallible reason. To submit religious truths to 
the judgment of reason was sooner or later to produce 
indifference, and ultimately infidelity; on the other hand, 
private inspiration must engender fanaticism. These 
two opposite products of Protestantism were manifest in 
the two Cromwells, father and son : Oliver believed him- 



282 MISTAKES AND MISSTATE^MI^NTS. 

self inspired, and became a fanatic ; Richard believed him- 
self not inspired, and became religiously indifferent. 

Cromivell's Death. — 

Richard Cromzvell. — 

The Restoration. — 

Puritan Litdraturi;. 

It Lights up the Religious Side of the Bnglish Revolution. 

Myers — -"The magnificent Epic of Milton and the un- 
equalled Allegory of Bunyan * * * * were written after 
the Restoration, but they were both inspired by the same 
spirit that had struck down Despotism and set up the 
Commonwealth." 

Comment — Or, in other words, that had struck down 
the Monarchy and set up Despotism; for it must not be 
imagined that in striking down the Monarchy and set- 
ing up the Commonwealth, Cromwell advanced the cause 
of liberty. Liberty is not promoted by usurpation or 
any other injustice. The Commonwealth was at least 
as despotic as the Kingdom ; and the Protector was at 
least as intolerant, and more bloody, than the King. 

Myers — "Milton stands as the grandest representative 
of Puritanism. * * * * All that was truest and grandest 
in the Puritan character found expression in the moral 
elevation and religious fervor of this the greatest of 
Christain epics." 

Comment — Dr. Brownson, the foremost of American 
thinkers and writers, and a convert to our holy faith, thus 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 283 

Speaks of Milton and his works: "Milton had a happy 
knack of interpreting the thoughts of devils, for he was 
himself a superb rebel, and a spirit kindred to Satan.'' And 
treating of English literature, he thus writes : "English 
genius half expired with the establishment of the Protest- 
ant religion. Shakespeare belongs to the Catholic world, 
not to the Protestant ; for not a thought or expression can 
be detected in all his works which indicates even a Protest- 
ant tendency, and, if not technically a Catholic he was 
at least formed under Catholic influence and nourished by 
Catholic traditions." 

"Milton was a strange compound of heathenism and 
Catholicity, with a dash of Puritanism. But the most 
successful portions of his great poem are those in which 
he remains true to Catholic tradition." 

Myers — "Pilgrim's Progress, the most admirable al- 
legory in English literature." 

Comment — A weary, dreary book, though possess- 
ing a strong style. 

III. The Restored Stuarts. 
1. Reign oe Charles the Second. 
Character of the King. — 
Pnnishment of the Regicides. — 
The Ne-w Model is Disbanded. — 

Myers — '■^With them Puritanism laid down the sword. 
It ceased from the long attempt to build up a kingdom 
of God by force and violence, and fell back on its truer 
work of building up a kingdom of righteousness in the 
hearts and consciences of men." 



284 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — An institution that mistakes its own work 
is not divinely commissioned "to build up a kingdom of 
righteousness in the hearts and consciences of mdn." Its 
progress will terminate at the bottom of the pit, whither 
the blind always lead the blind. 

The Conventicle and Five-Mile Acts. — 

The Covenanters. — 

Myers — "The tales of the sufferings of the Scotch 
Covenanters at the hands of the English Protestants are 
only equalled by the tales of the wrongs and cruelties in- 
flicted upon the Vaudois of the Alps by the French Cath- 
olics." 

Comment — The Vaudois or Waldenses, after they had 
desisted from violence towards the Church and her 
priests and members, were left in peace, and have re- 
mained unmolested to this day in the secluded valleys of 
Piedmont. 

As to the persecution which the Scotch Covenanters 
endured from the English Episcopalians, did it exceed, or 
even equal, the cruelties which Catholics suffered? Cath- 
olics were declared incapable of holding any office of pub- 
lic trust, either civil or military, and disqualified to sue 
in courts of law or equity, to act as guardians or execu- 
tors, or to receive any legacy or deed of gift. Every pos- 
sible means, no matter how infamous, was resorted to to 
suppress Catholicism, and rouse public indignation against 
its professors. 

The Fire, the Plague, and the Dutch War. — 
Charles' Intrinies With Louis XIV. — 



MrsTAKE;S AND MISSTATEMENTS. 285 

The Popish Plot.— 

Comment — The Popish Plot was only a rumor that 
the Catholics of England were conspiring to kill the 
Protestants. It was a wicked invention without a vestige 
of foundation to support it. It was conceived in hatred of 
Catholics, and greatly intensified the persecutions they en- 
dured ; for the excitement caused by the rumor among the 
credulous and bigoted populace, effected among other in- 
justices the passage of the Test Act, which excluded Cath- 
olics from the House of Peers, and which remained in 
force until last century. 

Origin of the Names Whig and Tory. — 

The Habeas Corpus Act. — 

The King's Death. — 

2. Reign oe James the Second. 

James' Despotic Course. — 

Comment — No one can read this article understand- 
ingly without amazement and horror at the popular big- 
otry, intolerance, and cruelty of the English people to- 
ward Catholics and Protestant dissenters. James the 
Second lost his throne because of an edict of toleration. 
Pupils, try to understand this: — A Catholic king issues 
an edict, called the "Declaration of Indulgence," whereby 
he suspends all the laws against non-conformists ; and be- 
hold, the nation rises up to denounce the act; the clergy 
will not read it from their pulpits; seven bishops remon- 
strate against it, and declare it unconstitutional. They 
demand a continuance of the bloody persecutions; they 
refuse to allow the king a royal chapel and Catholic ser- 



286 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMIJNTS. 

vices ; they conspire to overthrow the government ; and 
they make overtures to a foreigner to betray the reahn 
into his hands. Why, think you ? Because of any severity 
of Judge Jeffries ? Oh, no. Because of any real or im- 
aginary league with Louis XIV? No. These were minor 
offences. The King's unpardonable offense was that 
he sought to introduce religious toleration, and the clergy 
and the people would not suffer the change; they would 
play the traitor first. And now comes the professor with 
his one-stringed fiddle, and squeaks out his monotonous 
tune, that the Reformation was the mother of civil and re- 
ligious liberty. 

The Revolution of 1688. — 

Myers — ^"The prospect of the accession in the near 
future of a Protestant and freedom-loving Prince and 
Princess reconciled the people to the misgovernment of 
their present despotic and Catholic sovereign." 

Comment — Under the "freedom-loving Prince" and 
his gracious Princess the Catholics and non-conformists 
continued to endure the old-time galling inchgnities and 
cruel persecutions. 

Literature oe the Restoration. 
It Reflects the Immorality of the Age. — 

Myers — "Upon the Restoration * * * * faith gives 
place to infidelity, sobriety to drunkenness, purity to pro- 
fligacy, economy to extravagance, Bible-study, psalm- 
singing, and' exhorting to theatre-going, profanity, and 
carousing." 

Comment — Why? Why is virtue succeeded by vice? 
Because the virtue was not genuine. The false virtue and 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 287 

"sour-severity of Puritanism" disgusted men, and in their 
eagerness to quit it, they ran to the opposite excess. Both 
conditions were extreme : "In medio stat virtus." 

Butler's Hiidibras. — 

"The Corrupt Drama." — 

IV. The Orange-Stuarts. 
I. Reign oe Wieeiam ahd Mary. 
The Bill of Rights.— 
Settlement of the Revenue. — 
The MvJiny Act. — 

James Attempts to Recover the Throne: Battle of the 
Boyne. — 

Myers — "The Protestant Irish, or Orangemen, as they 
are called, still keep fresh the memory of the great vic- 
tory by the celebration, even in the cities of the New- 
World, of the anniversary of the event." 

Comment — But unfortunately with so malignant a 
spirit, and with so manifest an expression of contempt, 
as commonly to conclude the celebration with riot and 
bloodshed. 

As to the character of William's rule in Ireland we 
have a word to say. Cromwell had done all in his power 
to humiliate, and completely debase the Irish people. No 
nation or class, since the days of the pagan persecutions, 
had suffered more. Yet William, the "freedom-loving 
Prince," the "Christian Apostle," surpassed the foul 
deeds of the merciless Cromwell. Property was confis- 

19- 



288 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMI:nTS. 

cated to the crown, and the Irish peasantry impoverished. 
Legal trials were mockeries, and justice was unknown. 
Bishops were banished, and priests subjected to the most 
galling restraints in the discharge of their office. Catholic 
teachers were exiled, and if they returned, were put 
to death. Catholics were denied the right to educate their 
children abroad; but were compelled to send them to 
Protestant schools at home. Catholic orphans were given 
in charge to Protestant guardians. Apostasy was re- 
warded by monetary annuities. If the eldest son of a 
Catholic turned Protestant, he became possessed of the 
whole property of his parents. Catholics were excluded 
from all offices of honor and emolument in the state, 
and were heavily taxed for the support of the Protestant 
clergy and Protestant schools. These are but a few 
of the cruelties endured by the Irish under the reign of 
William and Mary. In the entire history of civilized 
nations no such monstrous tyranny ever satiated its fury 
upon an innocent people. 

2. Reign of Queen Anne. 
War of the Spanish Succession. — 
Union of the Parliaments of Bngland and Scotland. — 
Death of Qiiccn Anne. — • 
Literatnre Under Queen Anne. — 

V. England Under ti-ie Earlier Hanoverians. 

The Sovereign's Loss of Political Influence. — 

Myers — "George I. was tolerated by the English -for 
the reason that he represented Protestantism and those 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 289 

principles of political liberty for which thc}' had so long 
battled with their Stuart Kings." 

Comment — The principles of political liberty, for rep- 
resenting which George was tolerated, may be inferred 
from the laws enforced against Catholics during two pre- 
ceding reigns. 

Old French and Indian War. — 

The American Revolution. — 

Legislative Independence of Ireland. — 



CHAPTER III. 

The; Rise; of Russia: Pe;te;r the; Gre;at. 

General Retnarks. — 

h'an the Terrible. — 

Myers — "Ivan the Terrible had 'spasms of remorse' 
for his deeds, and then would cFothe himself in the garb 
of a penitent, march in the priestly processions, pray him- 
self and ask the prayers of others for the repose of the 
souls of his victims." 

Comment — He did not march in "priestly processions" 
of the Catholic Church, nor would he have been allowed 
to. The Russian Church was at this time separate from 
the Catholic Church, was a schismatic church, and Ivan 
the Terrible was its head. He ruled it tyrannically, as he 
ruled the state, and his will in ecclesiastical afifairs was 
law. 

Myers — "But in judging Ivan, we ought, as Rambaud 
fairly urges, to try him by the standards of his own 
time, and not to forget that 'the sixteenth century is the 
century of Henry the Eighth, of Ferdinand the Catholic, 
of Catherine de Medici, of the Inquisition, and of St. 
Bartholomew.' " 

Comment — In enumerating these persons and institu- 
tions, it is likely the author's purpose to reflect discredit on 
Catholicity; but we can easily remove the odium. .Henry 
VIII. ruled with some humanity and success so long as 
he remained a Catholic ; but when he rebelled against the 

290 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 291 

Church, he became a rebel against God, and a butcher of 
men. He was the head of the Reformation in England, 
and the Reformation cannot shake off the odium his deeds 
attach to it. In like manner, in so far as Ferdinand fol- 
lowed the advice of the Pope in the establishment and 
conduct of the Spanish Inquisition, he did well ; in so 
far as he departed from it, he did ill. In his excessive 
punishment of those who threatened his throne, and 
other criminals, no one will be found to defend him. 

Catherine de Medici was not more a Catholic than 
a Calvinist, and always acted from motives of personal 
ambition or revenge. 

The Massacre of St. Bartholomew was an afifair pure 
ly political, and had no connection with religion. 

Tlie Conquest of Siberia. — 

Beginning of the House of Romaiiof. — 

Accession of Peter the Great. — 

His Boyhood. — 

His Plans. — 

Tlie Conquest of Azof. — 

Peter s First Visit to the West. — 

Peter's Reforms. — 

Myers — "Sophia, who '•' * * * was suspected of be- 
ing concerned in the plot (to seize the throne) was com- 
pelled to take religious vows, which act effectually re- 
moved her from the sphere of politics." 

Comment — In the Catholic Church, no applicant for 
admission into the monastic life is permitted to be re- 



292 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

ceived except he or she come freely and vokmtarily. The 
Church will not suffer her institutions to be made the in- 
struments of injustice. 

Charles XII. of Sivcden. — 

The Battle of Narva. — 

The Founding of St. Petersburg. — 

Invasion of Rnssia by Charles XII. — 

The Battle of Pultozva. — 

End of Charles Career. — 

Condemnation of C::aro%vitch Alexis. — 

Close of Peter's Reign. — 

Peter's Character and Work. — 

Memorials of the Great Csar. — 

MYERS^"Actuated by the sentiment that has ever 
led mankind to cherish memorials of its heroes, the Rus- 
sians have preserved with religious care numberless relics 
of their great Czar." 

Comment — "The sentiment that has ever led man- 
kind to cherish memorials of its heroes," must be a nat- 
ural sentiment, and true. Why then do Protestants alone 
of all mankind, while "preserving with religious care 
numberless relics" of civil and military heroes, of scientists 
and literary men, of relatives and friends, pay no heed 
to the relics of Christian heroes, but denounce the venerat- 
tion of the relics of saints and martyrs as idolatrous ? Is 
not this a contradiction, and a repression of natural 
sentiment? Or were the Christian heroes inferior, and 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 293 

less worthy of regard, than civil heroes? And if not, 
then, we ask, should religion crush out the natural senti- 
ment of the human heart? The natural esteem and 
reverence for great ability and exalted worth? Cer- 
tainly not. Our Saviour declares that He came not 
to destroy, but to fulfill; not to eradicate nature, 
but to perfect it. Protestantism in thus forbidding 
and condemning what is innocent and noble in human 
nature, proves that its origin is not from above. 

Rcigii of Catherine the Great. — 



CHAPTER IV. 

Thi; Rise; of Prussia: Frederick the Great. 

The Beginnings of Prussia. — 

The Great Elector Frederick William. — 

Myers — "He laid the basis of the mihtary power of 
Prussia by the formation of a standing army, and gave 
the world to understand that this rising power was to 
be the fearless champion of Protestantism and religious 
toleration." 

Comment — And the world very well understood that 
the "rising power" would be the champion of Protest- 
antism so long as politics recommended that course. But 
as to Protestant "religious toleration" which Prussia was 
to champion, we need say nothing, for it is more than 
hkely the author will contradict himself soon, and deny 
what he has just said. You v/ill recall how on a former oc- 
casion, he concluded an elaborate eulogium of the intro- 
duction by the Reformation of civil and religious liberty 
with the profound reflection, that in that regard the Refor- 
mation had not then completed its work, because it had not 
begun it. Oh, the profundity of the wisdom of the Sage of 
College Hill ! 

Myers — "And gave the world to understand that this 
rising power was to be the fearless champion of Protest- 
antism and religious toleration, by defying the wrath of 
Louis XIV." 

Comment — For political reasons. 

294 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 295 

Myers — ''And opening his dominions as an asylum 
to the Huguenots." 

Comment — As a Jew opens his door to a Jew, and a 
Turk to a Turk. But does a Jew harbor a Gentile, or a 
Mohammedan a Christian? So, neither did Frederick 
William "open his dominions as an asylum" to the Cath- 
olic exiles from Ireland and England ; but Louis XIV did. 
Mr. Myers should have said that Frederick William loved 
his friends and hated his enemies. If this be the defini- 
tion of religious toleration, our lexicographers should be 
notified. 

Hozv the Elector of Brandenburg Acquires the Title of 
King. — 

Frederick William I. — 

The "Regiment of Giants." — 

The "Tobacco Parliament." — 

Frederick Williani I. as an Administrator. — 

Frederick the Great. — 

War of the Austrian Succession. — 

The Seven Years' War. — 

Frederick's Part in the Dismemberment of Poland. — 

Death of Frederick the Great. — 

Frederick's Work : Prussia Made a Nezu Centre of Ger- 
man Crystallicatio n. — 

Myers — -"Prussia and Austria * * * * become bitter 
rivals, and about them * "^ * * the smaller neighboring 



296 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

states gather as prompted by their political and religious 
tendencies. Austria represents reactionary, despotic Cath- 
olicism ; Prussia progressive, liberal Protestantism." 

Comment — We have now read nearly 600 pages of this 
book, and we have heard this same tune thumbed over 
again and again without variation, until we are sick and 
tired of it. It is a false statement, as devoid of orig- 
inality as of truth, and no argument can be adduced 
to support it. Mr. Myers found it somewhere, and be- 
cause it chimed in with his prejudices, ever since, par- 
rot-like, or phonograph-like, he has been repeating it. 

It is pitiful to find our author, a man devoid neither of 
natural talent nor literary attainments, so warped in his 
judgment by religious or irreligious prejudices, as to be 
incapable of writing, not only a good book, but even a 
harmless one. 



CHAPTER V. 

The; French Revolution. 

I. Causes oe the Revolution : The States-Generae 

OE 1789. 
Introductory. — 

Myers — "The French Revolution is in poHtical what 
the German Reformation is in ecclesiastical history." 

Comment — A revolt; the one against political author- 
ity, the other against ecclesiastical authority. Now, re- 
volt against authority is always sinful: to justify a re- 
volt, it is necessary to prove that the authority rebelled 
against has ceased to exist as authority, and exists only 
as power, unlawful power. This the author does not do 
in the case of either the Revolution or Reformation ; there- 
fore both stand condemned. 

Myers — "The French people in 1789 contended for 
those same principles that * ='= * * our fathers main- 
tained in 177G." 

Comment — To defend Protestantism successfully, as 
Mr. Myers sees and admits, it is necessary to defend the 
French Revolution, which was its political fruit; and so 
he associates the French Revolution with the American 
Revolution, and asserts the identity of their principles, 
and a difference only in their methods. This manoeuvre 
is very adroit, and is well calculated to enlist your sym- 
pathy and approval ; but it will not succeed. James Balmes 
who writes history with an ability and truth to which 
Mr. Myers is a stranger, speaks thus of the two revoke 

297 



298 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

tions : — "If we attentively consider the points of differ- 
ence between the revohition of the United States and 
that of France, we shall find that one of the principal 
points of difference consists in this, that the American 
revolution was essentially democratic, that of France es- 
sentially impious. In the manifestos by which the former 
was inaugurated, the name of God, of Providence, is 
everywhere seen; the men engaged in the perilous enter- 
prise of shaking off the yoke of Great Britain, far from 
blaspheming the Almighty, invoke his assistance, con- 
vinced that the cause of independence was the cause of 
reason and justice. The French began by deifying the 
leaders of irreligion, overthrowing altars, watering with 
the blood of priests, the temples, the streets and the scaf- 
folds — the only emblem of revolution recognized by the 
people, is Atheism, hanci in hand with liberty. This folly 
has borne its fruits — it communicated its fatal contagion 
to other revolutions in recent times — the new order of 
things has been inaugurated with sacrilegious crimes ; and 
the proclamation of the rights of man was begun by the 
profanation of the temples of Him from whom all rights 
emanate." 

Myers — •" 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity' was the 
motto of the revolution." 

Comment — We care not what the motto was. Every 
villain will speak you fair ; and the devil himself oft comes 
as an angel of light. We want to know what was the 
spirit of the revolution ; and we shall see directly. 

Causes of the Rcvohition. — • 

Comment — The abuses and extravagances of the 
Bourbon monarchy had doubtless been great, and great 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 299 

too, was the immorality of court life. The people were 
angry and sought redress of grievances. The success of 
the American Revolution was an exciting cause, quicken- 
ing the French Revolution; but the real efficient cause 
was the false principles of liberty, introduced by the Ref- 
ormation, working out their logical conclusions in practi- 
cal life. As to the French clergy — if they enjoyed many 
privileges, it must be admitted that they were the zealous 
patrons and generous supporters of the French poor. 

The Bourbon Monarchy. — " ' 

The Nobility.— 

The Clergy. — 

Comment — First, we are told that, "the clergy formed 
a decayed feudal hierarchy;" but as we do not know ex- 
actly what the author means, it would probably be unpro- 
fitable to speculate on the significance of the proposition. 
"They possessed enormous wealth." Not personally, 
but corporately. The Church possessed the property 
and used it in the interest of religion and charity. "This 
immense property was almost wholly exempt from taxa- 
tion." Of course it was; just as our Church property is. 
"The bishops and abbots were usually drawn from the 
families of the nobles, being attached to the service of the 
Church rather by its princely revenues and the social dis- 
tinction conferred by its offices, than by the inducements 
of piety." But this abuse was the fruit of government 
interference in the selection of prelates. The Church was 
not free in France to advance the most worthy priests to 
the higher offices, and too often court favorites, with 
little zeal and less piety were promoted to the highest 



300 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

honors. " 'The pohtician prelates' were characterized by 
the same odious pride and insolence that marked the lay 
nobles." Alas, there is some truth in this accusation — let 
the blame fall where it should. As to the grave and gen- 
eral charges that follow, they are found more frequently 
in the mouths of the impious and vulgar, than of the 
honest and decent. The Catholic clergy have ever been 
in every country the most learned and virtuous portion of 
its citizens. 

The Commons. — 

Myers — "The only recognized use (of the people) 
in the state was to pay feudal services to the lords, tithes 
to the priests, and imposts to the king." 

Comment — Recognized by whom? By money grab- 
bers ? By scoffing, heartless infidels ? The clergy always 
respected the people; and in return were respected by 
them, that is by the respectable portion of them. 

Myers — "Louis XV. once deeply wounded the feel- 
ings of one of his great lords by gently reproving him 
'for shooting peasants as a pastime.' " 

Commejtt — It is a great mistake to write history in this 
way. An explanation of the circumstances or the occa- 
sion of the remark is necessary for its understanding. 
Murder was always a crime in France. 

Myers — "Fenelon says to Louis XIV. : 'Your people 
are dying of hunger. Instead of money being wrenched 
from these poor creatures, alms and bread should be given 
them. France is simply a large hospital, full of woe and 
empty of food.' " 

Comment — Do you know who Fenelon was ? He was 
the Archbishop of Cambray; and we may add that the 



MISTAKES AND MISS'rATi;MENTS. 301 

French clergy have always had many Fenelons, who dared 
to upbraid tyrants, and who, in times of distress, spent 
their goods and themselves in giving relief to the poor 
people. 

Myers — "When hereafter we see these wretched 
creatures turning like maddened demons upon those 
whom they regard as responsible for their sufiferings, 
we must remember their terrible wrongs; and also bear 
in mind that it is the divine law that the sowers of the 
wind shall be the reapers of the whirlwind." 

Comment — But the law does not work backward : the 
reapers of the whirlwind have not always sown the wind. 
Not every one who suffers wrong, brought it upon him- 
self. Not all who endure evil, merited it. Not every 
executed man is guilty. The Prince of Darkness stirred 
up the multitudes against our Lord; and our Saviour 
promised that persecution and worldly hate should ever 
be the portion of his faithful disciples. It is the devil's 
rule that the innocent should suffer, and the wicked pros- 
per in this world, so far as he can effect it. The French 
Revolution was, as regards its radical spirit, anti-Catholic, 
chaotic and diabolic; and it raged with a devil's instinc- 
tive malice against Christ and his Church. Mr. Myers 
seems to think that the Revolutionists in their bloody 
excesses were actuated by a merely human passion of re- 
venge against their former oppressors. We ask, then, 
why did they rail against the Almighty? Why did they 
blaspheme God ? Why did they enact a law to exile God 
from the world? All this, and much yet to be told, dis- 
proves the author's supposition. 

Revolutionary Spirit of French Philosophy. — 

Comment — ^Voltaire and Rousseau were the two chiefs 



302 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMIJNTS. 

of the army of satan. Voltaire was an infidel, and prob- 
ably as much of an atheist, too, as a man can become, and 
took a solemn oath "to devote his whole life to the work 
of destroying Christianity, and with it all positive relig- 
ion." Rousseau waged war with malignant hate on the 
divine institutions of society, Church, State, and family, 
without which men were worse than savages. When 
Voltaire declared : "I have accomplished more in my 
day than either Luther or Calvin," he should have added, 
"and I have continued their work." 

Influence of the American Revolution. — 

Myi;rs — "In this young Republic of the western world 
they saw realized the Arcadia of their philosophy." 

Comment — The Bible says : "A man dug a pit and 
fell into it." Young reader, behold an illustration. Mr. 
Myers says that the sentiments of the infidel philosophers 
were popularly accepted, and formed the animus of the 
Revolution : "The names of the great infidel writers, 
Rousseau and Voltaire, suggest at once its prevalent tone 
and spirit." Very well. Now what did Voltaire seek? 
The destruction of Christianity and all positive religion. 
What was Rousseau's aim? The abolition of Church, 
State and family. Were all, or any of these things ac- 
complished by the American Revolution? No. How 
then was the dream of the French infidel philosophers 
realized? It was not realized. How was the Arcadia of 
their philosophy realized? Not at all. The stupidity of 
the philosophers is equaled by the stupidity of the his- 
torian. 

"After us the Deluge." — 

Calling of the States — General. — 



misTakj^s and misstatements. 303 

II. The National or Constituent Assembey. 

The States-General Changed into the National Assem- 
bly.— 

Prominent Men in the Assembly. — 

Myers — "Belonging b}^ birth to the same order (the 
nobiHty), but sitting now as a deputy of the commons, 
was Mirabeau, a large-headed, dissolute, unscrupulous 
man, an impetuous orator, the mouth-piece of the Revolu- 
tion * * * * He had already demonstrated his fitness 
for leadership." 

Comment — He had already demonstrated his unfitness 
for leadership. A "dissolute, unscrupulous man" may be 
able to lead men, but he is not fit to lead them. He is a 
poor philosopher who confounds fitness with ability. 

Origin of the Revolutionary Commune of Paris.— 

The Formation of the National Guards. — 

Storming of the Bastile. — 

Myers — "The destruction by the Paris mob, of the 
Bastile, is in the French Revolution what the burning of 
the Papal bull by Luther was to the Reformation." 

Comment — It launched the catastrophe. The revolu- 
tionists liberated seven prisoners from the Bastile, erected 
44,000 guillotines, and murdered hundreds of thousands 
of innocent victims. A corresponding havoc in the spir- 
itual order completes the picture of the Reformation. 

Myers — "The destruction by the Paris mob, of the 
Bastile * * * * was the death-knell not only of Bourbon 
despotism in France, but of royal tyranny everywhere." 

20- 



304 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — There was no Bourbon despotism at the 
time of the Revokition. Louis XVI. was an exemplary 
monarch. And as to the Revolution destroying tyranny 
everywhere, it introduced at home the worst form of 
tyranny, the tryanny of the mob, and disseminated it 
abroad. "None are so blind as they who will not see." 

Myers — "^'When the news reached England, the great 
statesman Fox, perceiving its significance for liberty, ex- 
claimed, 'How much is this the greatest event that ever 
happened in the world, and how much the best.' " 

Comment — It was fortunate for Europe that Pitt 
did not see through Fox's eyes, and could not detect 
the salutary influence of the Revolution ; otherwise, Eng- 
land might have remained neutral, and Napoleon been vic- 
torious at Waterloo. 

When "men gather grapes from thorns and figs from 
thistles," then may revolutions like that of France pro- 
duce salutary effects. 

The Abolition of Privileges. — 
"To Versailles." — 

71ie Royal Family Taken to Paris. — 
The Bmigration of the Nobles. — 
The Pliglit of the King. — 

Myers — "The King was kept a close prisoner in the 
Tuileries. The National Assembly were making sweeping 
reforms both in Church and State." 

Comment — The National Assembly had no ecclesias- 
tical authority, and could make no changes in the Church ; 
but it could play the tyrant, and oppress the Church, which 



MISTAKES AND MISSTaTEMIJnTS. 305 

it did. To steal Church revenues, to confiscate Church 
property, and to exile the religious, are with our profes- 
sor, reforms. Like the Mafia, he has a language of his 
own. 

The Clubs: Jacobins and Cordeliers. — 
The Neiv Constitution. — 

III. The Legislative Assembly. 
The Three Parties. — 
The Temper of the Assembly. — 
War With the Old Monarchies.— 

Myers— "The old monarchies of Europe resolved 
>.- ¥ * * ti^j^j. ^}^g heretical French doctrines respecting 
the sovereignty of the People and the Rights of Man 
should be proved false by the power of royal armies." 

Comment— It is not necessary to resort to force to dis- 
prove the infidel trash composed by Thomas Paine, and 
called. The Rights of Man. The refutation of the 'fool- 
ishness is easily procured, but how will you persuade 
the hot-headed anarchist to accept your proofs ? A revo- 
lutionist, truncated by the loss of faith and grace, and 
frenzied with hate and pride, is not a docile student. 

The Massacre of the Szviss Guards. — 

Myers— ''Meanwhile the gathering hordes of the capi- 
tal were swollen by the arrival of desperate men from all 
parts of France. From the South came the 'six hun- 
dred Marseillese who know how to die.' " 

Comment— The " hordes of the capital," the "bands of 
desperate men from all parts of France," and the "six 



306 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

hundred Marseillese," were the very men who knew 
not how to die because tliey knew not how to 
Hve, knew not the worth and meaning of hfe. These 
infatuated and furious hoodlums, whom Mr. Myers 
takes to his bosom as apostles of liberty, have merited 
neither applause, approval, nor apology. 

The Marseillese came with orders to "strike down the 
tyrant." Their municipal authorities would have done 
better to send a pig to teach cleanliness. 

The Plight of Lafayette. — 

Myers — "The army of the allies hurried on towards 
the capital, to avenge the slaughter of the royal guards 
and rescue the King. The rapid advance of the enemy 
alarmed the Revolutionists. That the invaders might 
receive no aid from royalists within, all persons sus- 
pected of sympathizing with the King were seized and 
hurried to prison. The jails of the capital were crowded 
with aristocrats and other supposed enemies of the Revo- 
lution." 

Comment — The Revolutionists had stormed the Bas- 
tile to rescue the prisoners whom they imagined by thou- 
sands to be groaning in dark dungeons, manacled and fet- 
tered — and found seven. Now, all the jails of the city 
are crowded with good men, whose only offense is sym- 
pathy with a lawful and worthy monarch, overwhelmed 
with insult and outrage. Let the reader decide whether 
the prior or subsequent condition was the more tryan- 
nous. 

We quote again the words of our author : "The Trench 
Revolution is in political, what the German Reforma- 
tion is in ecclesiastical history." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 307 

Myers — "Lafayette strove to moderate the fury of 
the people, to save the King and the new constitution, 
and to hold the country back from the anarchy into 
which he saw it was drifting. But his moderation of- 
fended the people; his popularity and influence were lost, 
and he was obliged to flee for his life." 

Comment — Yet, says the author, the French people 
contended for the same principles that our fathers main- 
tained in 177(3. Were our fathers anarchists? 

The Massacre of September ("Jail Delivery" ). — 

Myers — " 'We must stop the enemy,' cried Danton, 
'by striking terror into the royalists.' To this end the 
most atrocious measures were now adopted. It was re- 
solved that all the royalists confined in the jails of the 
capital should be murdered." 

Comment — Yet "The French Revolution is in political, 
what the German Reformation is in ecclesiastical history." 

Defeat of the Allies. — 

IV. The National Convention. 

Parties in the Convention. — 

The Bstablishment of the Republic. — 

Myers — ..A 'stentorian trumpeter' was deputed to pro- 
claim the decree of the Convention, beneath the Temple 
Tower where the royal family were confined. The King 
was reading, heard the decree, for the dead alone could be 
deaf to the republican trumpet, but 'did not lift his eyes 
from his book.' Thus fell Royalty in France, amidst the 
'utmost enthusiasm.' " 



308 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — To be succeeded by the black night of 
anarchy, the Reign of Terror, the dictatorship, the aboH- 
tion of Christianity, popular tumults, tyranny, bloodshed, 
and revolutions, down almost to the present day. Oh, 
how slow is France to learn ; how slow are historians 
to learn, that violence and injustice pave not the way 
to liberty and peace. 

Trial and Execution of the King. — 

Comment — The historian Alzog wrote : "Against the 
judicial murder by Frenchmen of one of the best of 
French Kings no determined opposition was made in the 
Convention, which was chiefly composed of Jacobins and 
Girondists. 'I forgive the authors of my death,' said 
this descendant of St. Louis with his last breath ; 'may my 
blood never be avenged upon France.' These noble words 
will remain for all time a splendid testimony to the mag- 
nanimity and Christian resignation of this unfortunate 
prince. His queen, Maria Antoinette, the daughter of 
Maria Teresa, carried herself during the last days of 
her life, and amid the trying scenes of execution, with the 
heroic fortitude of a martyr and the calm dignity of a 
saint." 

Coalition Against France. — 

The Revolutionary Tribunal and Committee of Public 
Safety. — 

Myers — "The Committee of Public Safety contained 
the germ of a Roman Triumvirate, and the Revolution- 
ary Tribunal that of a Spanish Inquisition." 

Comment — When the Spanish Inquisition is referred 
to by a non-Catholic author there is generally intended 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 309 

some reflection on the Church, so that it is necessary, or 
at least expedient, for the CathoHc to reply. Let it there- 
fore be well understood that Rome did not approve of 
the excessive rigor of the Spanish Inquisition. In proof 
of which statement we cite the fact, that coeval with 
the Spanish Inquisition was the Roman Inquisition ; and, 
although the Apostolic See was occupied during that time 
by popes of extreme rigor and severity in all that re- 
lates to civil and ecclesiastical administration, never did 
the Roman tribunal pronounce sentence of capital punish- 
ment. The fact is worthy of remembrance. 

The Fall of the Girondists. — 

The Reign oe Terror. 

Opening of the Reign of Terror. — • 

Myers — "All aristocrats, all persons suspected of 
lukewarmness in the cause of liberty, were ordered to the 
guillotine." 

Comment — The cause represented by Marat, Danton 
and Robespierre, was not the cause of liberty, but the 
cause of tyranny, autocracy, and license. Things should 
be called by their right names. 

Charlotte Corday: Assassination oe Marat. 

Myers — "The atrocious tyranny of the revolutionary 
leaders of Paris caused the inhabitants of almost all the 
departments of the country to fly to arms. At this mo- 
ment appeared the Joan of Arc of the Revolution." 

Comment — The comparison of Charlotte Corday with 
Joan of Arc is most unhappy. The act of Charlotte was 



310 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

murder, and, how-much'-soever provoked, absolutely in- 
defensible. On the contrary, Joan of Arc was legally com- 
missioned by the King, and all her military acts were free 
from moral stain. 

Events After the DcatJi of Marat. — 

Bxecution of Marie Antoinette. — 

Madame Roland. — 

Sweeping Changes and Reforms. — 

Abolition of Christianity. — 

Myers — "Bishop Gobel * * * * appeared before the 
National Convention, and being introduced to its mem- 
bers, spoke as follows : 'When the people wanted bish- 
ops, I suffered myself to be made a bishop. I cease to 
be so when the people do not desire to have any.' " 

Comment — God in giving to a boy a vocation to the 
priesthood, does not forthwith make him a saint ; nor 
does he miraculously or instantaneously sanctify him on 
the reception of Holy Orders. Sanctity is acquired by co- 
operation with God's grace, and is preserved by persever- 
ance. Among the thousands of priests who died for the 
faith during the progress of the Revolution (six hundred 
of whom were slaughtered in Avignon alone), a few 
Judases were found, conspicuous among whom was Gobel. 
The apostate was quickly overtaken by divine justice. 
He was arrested and imprisoned, and during the months 
of his confinement, came to himself, and exhibited the bit- 
terest regret for the scandalous crime that he had com- 
mitted. On April 13th, he was executed by those who 
had provoked him to sin. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 311 

Myers — "Nov. 7, 1793, the abolition of the Christian 
religion in France (took place). The churches of Paris 
and of a great number of other cities * * * * were now 
closed, and the treasures of their altars and shrines con- 
fiscated to the State. The bells were melted down into 
cannon and muskets. The images of the Virgin and 
the Christ were torn down, and the busts of Marat 
and other patriots set up in their stead. And as the 
emancipation of the world was now to be wrought, 
not by the Cross, but by the guillotine, that instrument 
took the place of the crucifix, and was called the Holy 
Guillotine. All the visible symbols of the ancient religion 
were destroyed. All emblems of hope in the cemeteries 
were obliterated, and over their gates were inscribed the 
words, 'Death is eternal sleep.' " 

Comment — -Having now witnessed the fury of the 
whirlwind of the Revolution, and its destruction of life, 
propert}', institutions, and laws, the reader is prepared 
to examine the comparison instituted by the author, of 
the Revolution with the Reformation. The Reforma- 
tion rejected all unwritten Revelation; rejected -parts of 
the inspired Scriptures; rejected the Church of Christ; re- 
jected the Mother of God. It forbade the honoring of 
the saints whom God honors ; it forbade the veneration 
of the relics of the martyrs and other Christian heroes ; it 
forbade all reverence for the crucifix and the memorials 
of our Saviour's passion and death. It denied the Sacri- 
fice of the Mass, and made the Church of God a meeting- 
house of men ; it denied Holy Orders, and made the 
priest a layman ; it denied the Sacrament of Matrimony 
and made marriage a civil and almost a profane rite, a 
mere human contract, dissoluble at will ; it denied the 



312 MISTAKi;S AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Sacrament of Extreme Unction,, and left the sick to die 
without spiritual consolation ; it denied the Hol-y Euchar- 
ist, and fed its children on the bread that perisheth; it 
denied the Sacrament of Penance, and left sinners to live 
in sin and die in despair or presumption; it denied the 
Sacrament of Confirmation, and deprived its followers 
of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost; it has sometimes 
virtually, and even formally, denied the Sacrament of 
Baptism without which heaven remains closed to man. It 
robbed its disciples of well nigh everything, and restored 
nothing, and called the destruction and desolation, relig- 
ious liberty and progress. 

In like manner, when the Revolution had overthrown 
the government and effected anarchy, it called it freedom ; 
when it had suppressed Christianity, and established in- 
fidelity, it called it wisdom; when it had slain the offi- 
cials, exiled the nobles, and confiscated the property of the 
rich, it called it equality. 

Mr. Myers in calling attention to the striking simil- 
arity between the two great catastrophies, has evinced 
a seeming perspicacity that reflects credit upon his abil- 
ity. But we wonder whether he understands what he 
has said. 

The Worship of Reason. — 

Myers — "One of the chiefs of the Commune, ad- 
dressing the members of the assembly, while he pointed 
to the Goddess (a disreputable and notorious character), 
said : 'France has abandoned inanimate idols for Rea- 
son, for that animated image, the masterpiece of na- 
ture.' " 

Comment — This shocking scene was enacted in the 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATIJMENTS. 313 

Cathedral of Notre Dame at Paris; and it recalls our 
Saviour's words, "the abomination of desolation stand- 
ing in the holy place." The reader will not be surprised 
to learn that within two years from this date, Nov. 10, 
1793, 59,000 marriages were dissolved in Paris alone. 
To this cause and effect the scriptural passage from the 
Prophet Osee is applicable : 

"They shall sow wind, and reap a whirlwind." 

Myers — "The example of Paris was followed through- 
out France. Churches were everywhere converted into 
temples of the new worship." 

Comment — This statement is not literally true. The 
new worship was not universally introduced. Several 
provinces remained loyal to Christ and to his Church, 
and by their armed resistance, concluded with the Revo- 
lutionists an honorable peace which gave them freedom 
of Catholic worship. 

Fall of Hehcrt and Danton. — 
Worship of the Supreme Being. — 

Myers — "One of the first acts of the dictator was 
to give France a new religion in the place of the wor- 
ship of Reason. Robespierre wished to sweep away 
Christianity as a superstition, but he would stop at 
Deism." 

Comment — Christianity is the religion of Christ, and 
has in it nothing of superstition. We leave the obloquy 
of the invention and expression of the impiety to those 
who are guilty. 
The Terror at Paris. — 
Massacres in the Provinces. — 



314 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

The Fall of Robespierre. — 

The Reaction. — 

Successes of the French Arms. — 

Napoleon Defends the Convention. — 

V. The Directory. 

The Republic Becomes Aggressive. — 

Myers — "The Revolution, having accomplished its 
work in France, having there destroyed royal despotism 
and abolished class privilege, now set itself about fulfill- 
ing its early promise of giving liberty to all peoples." 

Comment — The Revolution has done its work in 
France ; let us count the result. Of the public institutions 
existing before, few escaped. The arbitrary power of 
the monarch has passed away. The oppressive privileges 
of aristocracy, are gone forever. The iniquities and cruel- 
ties of the old penal laws and the old criminal procedure, 
have vanished. These are the sum of its conquests. 

And what the Revolution did for France, it did, in 
greater or less measure, for much of continental Eu- 
rope. If it had stopped with the correction of abuses, 
none could justly condemn it; but it did not stop there; 
it carried its infidel principles to their logical conclu- 
sion, and transgressed not less the Ten Commandments 
than the political constitution. It rejected the authority 
of God and of the State ; and abused most tyrannically 
the inalienable and sacred rights of individuals, "life, 
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It destroyed roy- 
alty by destroying the royal family ; it eradicated class 
privileges by slaughter and exile of the aristocracy and 



M 



iSTAKlJS AND MISSTATEMENT'S. " 315 



clerg-y, and the confiscation of their legal property. It re- 
moved abuses by the perpetration of incomparably great- 
er ones ; and inflicted persecution or death on virtuous cit- 
izens for refusing to participate in its crimes. The remedy 
was a thousand-fold worse than the disease, and has 
paralyzed the body politic. Ever since has France stood 
unsteadily, and has tottered in her national movements. 
The violence that justice suffered, shocked, alienated, and 
isolated the French people, one from another; the pub- 
lic conscience is lethargic; public spirit is weak; and 
the classes of French society stand aloof from one an- 
other, and are inimical ; and why ? Because the Ten Com- 
mandments which are the bonds of society have been 
broken. What wonder then that France, divided against 
itself, should have for nearly a century swung back and 
forth between monarchy, anarchy, and republicanism ? 

Myers— "The republics established (by France) were 
indeed, short lived; for the times were not yet ripe for 
the complete triumph of democratic ideas. But a great 
gain for freedom was made." 

Comment— It is very much to be doubted, to say the 
least, whether violent attacks upon constituted authority, 
resulting in radical constitutional changes, can ever he 
salutary in their effects. 

The Plans of the Directory.— 

Napoleons Italian Campaign. — 

Treaty of Campo Pormio. — 

Napoleons Campaign in Egypt. — 

Establishment of the Tiherinc, the Helvetic, and the Par- 
thenopaean Republics. — 



316 MIS'rAKE;S AND MiSSTA'i'EMliN'rS. 

Comment — These violent invasions, forcible seizures 
and radical constitutional changes, wrought by the Revo- 
lutionists in the surrounding countries, are not suscep- 
tible of justification. The law, "Thou shalt not steal," 
binds nations as well as individuals. 

The Reaction : Napoleon Overthrows the Directory. — 

Myers — "The French Revolution had at last brought 
forth its Cromwell. Napoleon was master of France. 
The French Republic was at an end, and what was dis- 
tinctively called the French Revolution was over," 

Comment — Extremes meet. The Republic is succeed- 
ed by the Empire, and they who would have none to 
rule over them, are obliged to call in a dictator to save 
them from themselves. But why this necessity, a neces- 
sity not only at this time and place, but everywhere and 
always? Because there is no liberty without law; liberty 
being, as Cicero says, slavery to law. "In the same way it 
may be said, that the liberty of the intellect consists in 
being the slave of truth ; and the liberty of the will in 
being the slave of virtue." 

Secret of Napoleon s Pozver. — 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Consulate and the First Empire : France Since 
THE Second Restoration. 

I. The Consulate and the Empire. 

The Veiled Military Despotism. — 

Myers — "After the overthrow of the Directorial gov- 
ernment, a new constitution — the fourth since the year 
1789 — was prepared, and having been submitted to the 
approval of the people, was heartily endorsed." 

Comment — Here is seen another striking resemblance 
between the political and ecclesiastical revolutions : — Four 
national constitutions succeeded one another in a single 
decade of years ; and with like rapidity were the symbols 
of the reformed faith devised, accepted, and rejected. The 
latter phenomenon led Bossuet to compose a book en- 
titled, "The Variations of Protestantism," in which ap- 
pears this succinct argument: "Protestantism changes, 
therefore it is not true, for the truth changes not." 

Myers — "France was still called a republic, but it was 
such a republic as Rome was under Julius Caesar or 
Augustus. The republican names and forms merely 
veiled a government as absolute and personal as that of 
Louis XIV., — in a word, a military despotism." 

Comment — "Iniquitas mentita est sibi," — Iniquity 
hath lied to itself. How could the Revolution with its 
impious principles fulfil its promise to give freedom ? The 
promises of the Revolution were mighty; but their ful- 

317 



318 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

fillment, worse than nothing-. The resemblance of the 
two revohitions still continues. 

Wars of the First Consul. — 

His Works of Peace : the Code Napoleon. — 

Myers — "The Code Napoleon * * * * secured the 
work of the Revolution." 

Comment — Napoleon on assuming the reins of gov- 
ernment, entered into a political desert, and the law and 
order he established was his work, not that of the Revo- 
lutionists. He built upon the ruins of the Revolution, not 
with those ruins. 

Myers — "It swept away the unequal, iniquitous, op- 
pressive customs, regulations, decrees, and laws that 
were an inheritance of the feudal ages." 

Comment — No, it did not, for already had they been 
swept away by the Revolution, and with them much that 
was just, charitable, and sacred. 

Myers — -"It recognized the equality in the eye of the 
law of noble and peasant." 

Comment — It did not, for there was no noble. The 
nobility long since had been abolished. To attribute the 
Code Napoleon to the Revolution is like attributing a 
wheat harvest to the flames that destroyed the first sowing, 
and necessitated a second planting. We readily admit the 
excellence of much of the Napoleonic legislation, but we 
object to attributing it to the insane fury of the Revolu- 
tion. 

Napoleon Made Consul for Life. — 

Plots Against His Life. — 



MISTAKIi:S AND MISSTATEMENTS. 319 

Napoleon Proclaimed Emperor. — 

Myers — "The Pope poured upon the head of the 
kiieehng Emperor the hoh^ oil, and invested him with 
the imperial sceptre; but when he would have placed 
the crown upon his head, Napoleon checked him, and 
.taking the diadem from the Pope crowned himself with 
his own hands." 

Comment — Napoleon crowned himself lest the people 
would be angered by the performance of the ceremony by 
the Pope. The Pope was not ignorant of the Emperor's 
purpose, and did not attempt to crown him. 

Surrounding Republics Changed Info Kingdoms. — 

MyErs — "Napoleon was right when he said that a 
revolution in France was sure to be followed by a revolu- 
tion throughout Europe. As France, a republic, would 
make all states republics, so France a monarchy, would 
make all nations monarchies." 

Comment — Napoleon was a false prophet ; and facts 
then and now confute his prediction. France has been a 
republic without interruption for more than thirty years ; 
while the kingdoms about her have remained kingdoms. 

Myers — "Within five years from the time that the 
government of France assumed an imperial form, all 
the surrounding republics raised by the revolutionary 
ideas and armies of France had been transformed into 
monarchies dependent upon France, or had become a com- 
ponent part of the French Empire. * * "^^ * Thus was the 
political work of the Revolution undone. Political lib- 
erty was taken away." 

Comment — From which statement it might be in- 
ferred that the peculiar tendency of the Revolution was 



21— 



320 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMIjNTS. 

toward the establishment of hberty. Nothing could be 
further from the truth. No government was ever more 
despotic and unjust than the unstable governments of 
the Revolution ; no leaders were ever more tyrannical and 
bloody than Marat, Hebert, Danton, and Robespierre. 
From first to last, from the murder of the king, to the 
coronation of the Emperor, liberty was an exile under 
"ban. 

The Wars of Napoleon. — 

Austerlits : Bnd of the Holy Roman Umpire. — 

Trafalgar. — 

Jena and Aiierstadt. — 

Bylau and Friedland. — 

The Continental System : the Berlin and Milan Decrees. — 

Beginning of the Peninsular Wars. — 

Second Campaign Against Austria. — 

The Papal States and Holland Join.ed to the French Um- 
pire. — 

Myers— "That Napoleon cared but little for the thun- 
ders of the Church is shown by his treatment of the Pope. 
Pius VII. opposing his continental system, the Emperor 
incorporated the Papal States with the French Empire. 
The Pope thereupon excommunicated Napoleon, who 
straightway arrested the Pontiff, and dragged him over 
the Alps into France. He held him in captivity for four 
years, moving him from place to place, and part of the 
time limiting him to prison fare." 

Comment — Dr. Brownson speaking of the protection 
God ever extends to His Church, says : "Napoleon 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATF,MI;NTS. 321 

laughed at the idea of an excommunication of a sover- 
eign by the Pope in the nineteenth century, and aslvcd, 
sneeringly, if the old man expected that the thunders 
of the Church would cause the muskets to fall from the 
hands of his soldiers. He had his answer on his re- 
treat from Moscow, when the muskets did literally fall 
from their hands." 

Napoleon s Second Marriage. — 

Mye;rs — "The year following his triumph over Fran- 
cis I. of Austria, Napoleon divorced his wife Josephine, 
in order to form a new alliance with Maria Louisa, Arch- 
duchess of Austria. The fond and faithful Josephine 
bowed meekly to the will of her lord, and went into sor- 
rowful exile from his palace." 

Comment — What is the meaning of this effusion of 
sentimentality? If "the fond and faithful Josephine bowed 
meekly to the will of her lord" to express her approval of, 
or even acquiescence in, his second marriage, she became 
a party to the crime, and most faithless to God, who ab- 
hors all sacrilege, its perpetrators and accessories. 

Napoleon at the Summit of his Power. — 

Elements of Weakness in the Empire.- — 

The Invasion of Rnssia. — 

"The Battle of the Nations."— 

The Abdication of Napoleon. — 

The Congress of Vienna. — 

Myers — ''The Revolution had destroyed privilege as 
expressed in the effete feudal aristocracies of Europe, and 



322 MISTAKES AND MISSTATE^MENTS. 

impaired beyond restoration the monstrous doctrine of the 
divine right of Kings." 

Comincnt — That the reader may have a true concep- 
tion of the doctrine of "the divine right of Kings," we 
offer a few words of explanation. All authority is divine, 
and so parental, civil, and ecclesiastical authority, are 
divine authority exercised by the parent, the State, and 
the Church, as God's delegates. Were it not so, the dis- 
obedience of children, the treason of citizens, and the 
insubordination of Catholics, would be sinless. But they 
are sinful, and sinful for the reason that God rules 
through the parent, the King, and the Pope, as his dele- 
gates and representatives. In this sense, none but a fool 
will deny the right of Kings to exercise the authority 
which God has given them, nor the duty of subjects to 
obey. But if by the divine right of Kings our author 
mean their right to rule even contrary to God's law, and 
a divinely imposed obligation on the people to obey 
them in all things, — only a fool will assert it. In this 
latter sense the doctrine had a Protestant origin in the 
reign of James I. of England. 

A more common error than this, in our own day, is 
the doctrine that the ruler is responsible only to the peo- 
ple, and his duty is to execute their will. This is an 
infidel doctrine that owes its origin to the French Revo- 
lution. 

The Hundred Days. — 

II. France Since the Second Restoration. 
Character of the Period. — 

Myers — "The aim of the Revolution was to abolish 
privileges and establish rights." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 323 

Comment — Nothing more false could be said; and 
that you may understand the spirit of political revolu- 
tions in general, and the French Revolution in partic- 
ular, I quote at some length a passage from the writings 
of the eminent statesman, Dr. Brownson, dated 1850 : "I 
can hardly restrain my indignation when I find our liberal 
press representing these recent revolutions as attempted 
in favor of the people. A more God-forgetting and God- 
forsaken set of mortals it would be difficult to find, 
than the leaders of the European liberals, who excited 
these revolutions and sought through them to introduce 
popular government in the European states. There may 
be here and there an honest man in the ranks of the 
party, but among the chiefs I have not found a single 
one worthy of the least respect for his moral principles 
or his practical virtue. * * * * * * * * '■' *' 

"Nothing in the world is easier than to gain a repu- 
tation by opposing authority, declaiming for liberty, and 
professing unliniited devotion to the cause of the peo- 
ple. One needs but rattle off a few commonplaces for 
liberty, or against despotism, to gain the admiration of 
the multitude, and the name of patriot and people's friend. 
Chime in with popular passions, and those passions will 
swell your voice, and sustain you — for a time. 

"I was trained to sympathize with European liberals, 
and to receive as so much law and gospel whatever re- 
ceived the sanction of French infidels, Polish and Italian 
refugees, and English Whigs. In later 3^ears I have asked 
myself what European liberals, or the liberals in any 
country, from the Gracchi down to our own time, have 
ever effected for the liberty or the happiness of the peo- 
ple. In modern times they have frecjuently been in power. 
They were in power in England in the seventeenth cen- 



324 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMliNTS. 

tury ; they beheaded their King, brushed away the lords 
temporal and the lords spiritual, and had everything 
their own way. The nation gladly, to get rid of their 
misrule, submitted, under Cromwell, to a military despot- 
ism — to a slavery hitherto unknown in England. They 
were in power in Holland under the De Witts, and 
brought their country "to the verge of ruin. They were in 
power in France in 1789, 1830, and in 1848, and in each 
instance, as long as they held the power, terror reigned, 
and there was no security for person or property. Never 
do they rise to power but they prove themselves real des- 
pots, savages, and butchers. No nation has yet been 
found that could for any considerable length endure their 
sway, or that has not on the very first opportunity thrown 
them off. Religion and philosophy teach us that it must 
be so, and history proves that it is so. The reason is, 
that every liberal is by nature a despot, and it is his spirit 
of lawlessness and insubordination that places him in 
opposition to authority. However he may disguise the 
matter from himself or others, he wishes to be governed 
only by his own will, that is, to make his own will the 
government, which is the essential principle of despotism. 
When I hear a man declaiming lustily for liberty, I sus- 
pect it is for liberty to pick my pocket, or cut my throat." 

Reign of Louis XVIII. — 

The Revolution of 1830.— 

Myers — "King Charles X * * * * seemed utterly in- 
capable of profiting by the teachings of the Revolution. 
His blind, stubborn course gave rise to the saying : 'A 
Bourbon learns nothing and forgets nothing.' * * * * 
The people rose in revolt * * * * the despot was driven 
into exile," 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATljMDNTS. 325 

Comment — Mr. Myers is not an able historian, or he 
would have escaped this popular blunder. The truth is 
that the most glorious period of French history since the 
reign of Louis XIV was that of Charles X., a man and 
a prince of virtue and ability. And had France been wise 
enough to hear and heed him, she would now be in pos- 
session of her ancient constitution and her ancient glory. 

The constitution of a nation cannot suddenly and vio- 
lently be changed without causing social disorder; and 
it is to the repeated efforts of liberals to change the con- 
stitution by revolution — efforts so eloquently and ig- 
norantly applauded by our author — that France, Spain 
and Portugal, owe their present degradation. 

Esfablishmenf of the Seeond Republic. — 

Myers — "Almost every throne upon the continent 
felt the shock of the French Revolution of 1848. * * * * 
France had made another of her irresistible invasions of 
the states of Europe — 'an invasion of ideas.' " 

Comment — "An invasion of ideas" it is true, but the 
ideas of the mob. The mob in delirium made Louis Phil- 
ippe King, and in a second delirium unmade him. What 
good came of it? Mr. Myers throws up his hat and 
shouts lustily at the imagined triumph of liberty, because 
a mob in its wrath has deposed a King, burnt a throne, 
put an end to a dynasty, and resolved the state into its 
original elements. Would it not better become a serious 
author to restrain his enthusiasm until he had studied 
the consequences, and ascertained if any good had come, 
or possibly could come, from the fanaticism ? 

The Second Empire. — 

The Third Repiihlic.— 



CHAPTER VII. 
Russia Since the; French Revolution. 
Paid I. and Napoleon. — 

Myers — "Catherine's son, Paul I., with the sure in- 
sinct of a born autocrat, hated the Revolution and all 
the ideas it represented." 

Comment — After reading Mr. Myers' account of the 
character of the Revolution, and how it infected with 
discontent, lawlessness, and revolutions, the surrounding 
nations, far from regarding Paul's hate and alarm as 
symptoms of an autocratic instinct, rather should we con- 
sider them expressions of his instinct of self-preservation. 

Alexander I. and the Holy Alliance. — 
The Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829.— 
Revolution in Poland. — 
Russia and the Revolution of 1818. — 

Myers — "Hungary * * * * rose against Austria, 
and under the lead of the illustrious patriot Louis Kos- 
suth, made a noble fight for freedom." 

Comment — Kossuth visited this country in the interest 
of his revolution, toured it, and made many speeches. 
Great numbers of our people hailed him as the champion 
of liberty, the apostle of humanity, the Second Messiah, 
come to break the power of tyrants and to redeem the 
human race from bondage. But what was he in truth? 
A prominent American contemporary thus wrote of him 

326 



mistakes'and Miss'rATE;ME;NTs. 327 

and his cause : "No one questions that Kossuth is a 
distinguished revolutionary orator, and in that sort of 
eloquence — the lowest in the scale and the easiest to be 
attained to — which is adapted to rouse up the evil pas- 
sions, and stimulate the natural insubordination of an 
unreasoning and unscrupulous multitude, he stands pre- 
eminent. But of the lofty character of a true patriot, of 
a real lover of liberty, of a wise and prudent statesman, 
he has as yet given us no indication." 

And as to the cause: — "The Magyars (Hungarians) 
were the oppressors, not the oppressed, and while they 
were seeking to render themselves independent of the 
empire, they were fighting to keep eight millions of Hun- 
garians of other races in subjection to themselves." 

The Crimean War. — 

Emancipation of the Serfs. — 

The Rnsso-Turkish War of 1877-1878.— 

Nihilism. — 

Mye;rs — "Russian Nihilism is a smothered French 
Revolution." 

Comment — And the French Revolution was Nihilism 
in full blast, — from which you may learn to condemn 
both. A Nihilist is a member of a secret organization 
devoted to the destruction of political, religious, and so- 
cial institutions. The association is condemned by the 
Church as the enemy of God and man. It cannot be 
tolerated by any governmeiit, because it is the enemy 
of all government. 

President Roosevelt in his first address, treating of 
the assassination of President McKinley, said, that dan- 



328 MISTAKES AND MISSTATi;MENTS. 

ger encompassing- the office would not deter men from 
aspiring to the chief magistracy, but would arouse pub- 
lic indignation, and effect the passage of more stringent 
laws, and the more speedy and condign punishment of 
the guilty. Why ? Because Nihilism is tyranny, and gov- 
ernments fight tyranny with severity; and therefore the 
spirit of the Revolution, whether latent or manifest and 
active, arouses governments to restrict liberty and inten- 
sify severity. Harsh laws should be modified and cor- 
rected constitutionally; but should petition, remonstrance 
and lawful agitation, fail to accomplish the desired legis- 
lation, and the tyranny continue, revolution may be law- 
ful; the government forfeits the authority it has abused, 
and may be justly opposed. However, the private citizen 
is not the judge competent to determine when resistance 
is lawful. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

German Freedom and Unity. 
Ponnation of the German Confederation. — 
The Uprisings of 1830 : First Step Toivards Prccdoni. — 

Comment — You will see in this and the following 
paragraphs that Mr. Myers makes popular commotions, 
insubordination of citizens, and violent attacks upon the 
rulers, stepping stones to political liberty. Could any- 
thing be more absurd! The author would blot out the 
Fourth Commandment and that part of the Fifth and 
Seventh that relates to superiors. He shuts his eyes to 
the fact that rulers have rights as well as subjects, and 
that citizens can tyrannize as well as Kings. 

The Cnstoms Union : First Step Towards Unity. — 

Uprisings of 1848 : A Second Step Toivards Freedom. — 

Myers — "The Revolution of 1848 thus effected much 
for the cause of liberal government in Germany." 

Comment — How ? Mr. Myers answers : "The move- 
ments of that revolutionary year brought into the hands 
of the people much more power than they had ever be- 
fore exercised." But is there no danger of the people 
getting too much power? Is there no danger of them 
getting more power than they can wisely exercise ? There 
is great danger ; and we see a proof of it in the unstable 
South American republics. Popular intelligence and vir- 
tue are required in the degree that the people participate 

329 



330 mistake;s and misstati;me;nts. 

in the government. It is more difficult to command wise- 
ly than to obey. 

But how did the people of Germany use the new 
powers which they had wrung from Frederick William 
IV ? Mr. Myers tells us that the popular assemblies were 
ignorant and incompetent. 

The National Assembly : Efforts After Union. — 

Hungary : Kossuth. — 

Comment — It is high time that Kossuth was relegated 
to his proper place in history. A mercenary demagogue, 
he travelled over England and America making inflam- 
matory speeches, and collecting money for, he said, the 
liberation of his people. After gathering together an 
enormous sum, he slipped away from New York under 
cover of night and the assumed name of Alexander Smith, 
without paying his board-bill, and returned to Europe 
to live in regal luxury, where he recently died at an 
advanced age. He was as great a fraud as ever came 
to America, and that is saying a great deal. 

Rivalry Betzveen Austria and Prussia. — 

The Seven Weeks' War Between Austria and Prussia — 

Bstahlishnient of the North-German Union. — 

The Franco-Prussian War. — • 

Establishment of the New German Empire. — 



CHAPTER IX. 

The Liberation and Unification of Italy. — • 
Three Centuries of Servitude. — ■ 

Myers — "The wars and contentions of the nineteenth 
^century have been, indeed, ahiiost as numerous and con- 
stant as were those of the preceding ages, but they have 
been animated, on one side at least, by a singleness and 
loftiness of purpose which have not only redeemed them 
from all triviality but have lent to them the very great- 
est dignity, significance, and interest." 

Comment — We presume that the author alludes to 
those gigantic military robberies which, under the name 
of wars, violently seized and appropriated the smaller 
states of Italy. More ruthless and shameless expedi- 
tions have never received the commendation of an histor- 
ian. 

Italy at the Dozvnfall of Napoleon. — 

Myers — " 'Italy was divided on the map, but she had 
made up her mind to be one.' " 

Comment — As Italy comprised at the time millions of 
citizens, and numerous principalities of very diverse po- 
litical constitution and ambition, for the author to say 
that "Italy had made up her mind to be one," is a con- 
fession that he has no mind at all. No good Catholic 
favored the union that has been effected. 

Myers — '"The Revolution had sown the seeds of lib- 
erty, and time only was needed for their maturing." 

331 



332 MISTAKES AND MlSSTvVTEMENTS. 

Com III cut — If the ratio of anarchists to the whole pop- 
ulation, and the percentage of emigrants, be what it is 
considered to be, an index of the wretchedness of the 
nation, Italy with all its fertility, salubrity and beauty, 
is one of the most wretched and ill-governed of nations. 
The seeds of the Revolution have matured. 

Arbitrary Rule of the Restored Princes. — 

Myers — "In the Papal States the restored Pope went 
to the most absurd lengths in his policy of restrogres- 
sion.'^ 

Comment — Let us see what his retrogressive acts 
were. 

Myers — "The Inquisition was again set up." 

Comment — To bring to judgment those anarchists in 
whose heart the Revolution had sown the seeds of lib- 
erty ( ?), and who only waited an opportunity to garner 
the harvest by the murder of civil and ecclesiastical au- 
thorities, and the overthrow of Church and State. 

Myers — ^"A strict censorship of the press established." 

Comment — To prevent the publication of the most 
erroneous, wicked, and dangerous documents ever com- 
posed — false theories of government, vindications of revo- 
lution, slurs upon Christianity, slanders against the 
Church, and impious blasphemies against God. 

Myers — "Convents that had been closed, were re- 
opened." 

Comment — Was that a policy of restrogression? Hith- 
erto we have given the author credit for being an hon- 
est infidel, but now we think the adjective is undeserved. 
It is astonishing to what lengths a man can go when he 
weds false principles and follows them out. 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 333 

Myers— "Vaccination * ■■- * * was abolished." 

Comment — Yet we have been informed that many 
more people die from vaccination than from small-pox. 
This may not be a good argument against vaccination, 
but it has some weight ; and as the art of vaccinating 
was then in its infancy, doubtless the mortality was great- 
er; besides, there may have been special reasons for its 
suppression. 

Thus the charges preferred against the Pope's policy 
amount to nothing ; and words fail us to adequately desig- 
nate the stupidity and presumption of the author. 

Myers — "In Sardinia, King Victor Emanuel I. in- 
stituted an equally retrograde policy. * * * * The monks 
were given back their monasteries, which had been con- 
verted into factories." 

Comment — Where will the madness of this madman 
stop! Does he approve the policy that would confiscate 
private property, or having confiscated it, would retain 
it? Does he condemn the policy of our government in 
restoring to the Philippine monks their monasteries seized 
by the rebels ? Surely, he merits a place with Robespierre, 
Danton, Marat, and the other "liberals." 

The Carbonari: Uprising of 1830-1821. — 

Myers — '"The natural results of the arbitrary rule 
and retrogessive policy of the restored princes was deep 
and wide-spread discontent. The French Revolution 
* * * * had sown broadcast in Italy the seeds of lib- 
erty, and their growth could not be checked by the repres-' 
sions of tyranny. * * * * The Carbonari (charcoal bur- 
ners), * * * * organized at first to oppose tyranny in the 
Church, now turned their opposition against despotism in 
the State." 



334 MISTAKES AND MISSTATI^MENTS. 

Cojiiiiiciit — Give it up, Mr. Myers, give it up ! There 
is no hope. You ma}- talk and write until you are as black 
in the face as any charcoal-burner, but you can never 
convince the American reader that there is any sym- 
pathy between carbonarism and civil and religious lib- 
erty. John De Witt who was a Supreme Patriarch in 
the society, tells us that they who are initiated into the 
seventh degree swear to effect the ruin of every religion, 
and of every positive government, whether despotic or 
dem.ocratic; and that in pursuance of their oath, every 
means, even poison and perjury, are counted permissible. 
The revelation of DeWitt surprised few, for the detesta- 
ble sect had already established a reputation for deviltry. 
Now, these criminals are Mr. Myers' pets, his patriots, 
and his liberals. It might be prudent for the Cincin- 
nati police to keep an eye on our author. 

The Revolution of 1830-1831.— 

Myers — "The revolution in France which placed 
Louis Philippe upon the French throne sent a tremor of 
excitement and hope through all Italy. The centre of 
the revolution was the Papal States, the people of which 
were suffering a worse than Oriental despotism." 

Comment — The French Revolution introduced Free- 
masonry into Italy; and when Napoleon reached the 
height of his power, the Italian lodges became his prin- 
cipal support in the peninsula. In 1812 the Grand Orient 
of Paris had jurisdiction over 1,089 dependent lodges 
in Italy, and received from them annually 2,000,000 francs 
for the French Grand-master, Joseph Bonaparte. The 
Carbonari numbered about 500,000 in the Two Sicilies 
alone, and all Italy was honey-combed with Mazzinian 
lodges of the society called "Young Italy," the object of 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 335 

whose institution was the destruction of all the govern- 
ments of the peninsula in order to form one republican 
state in their place. They hated the Church as wicked 
and desperate men always do, especially when their en- 
terprises are opposed by her. Mr. Myers eulogizes the 
lawless leaders of these secret societies and is never tired 
of praising their daring enterprises. Bearing this in 
mind, the reader will understand that the Papal gov- 
ernment is called despotic because it brought some mis- 
creants to justice. But the only charge that with any 
show of justice could rightly be preferred against the 
Papal government is. that it was too lenient, too paternal. 

Myers — "One party, known as 'Young Italy,' founded 
and inspired by the patriot Joseph Mazzini, wanted a re- 
public." 

Conuiu'iit — Joseph ^lazzini was a conspirator by na- 
ture whose watchword was, "The Italian people are called 
to destroy Catholicism in the name of continuous revolu- 
tion." 

The Revolution of 1848-1849.— 

Myers — "Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, unfor- 
tunately a rash and incapable man, though a true-hearted 
and zealous patriot * * * * declared war against Aus- 
tria." 

Comment — Charles Albert is not in good odor with 
revolutionists and their sympathizers, for, having been a 
Carbonaro, he later received the grace to be ashamed 
of the sect and abandon it. 

Myers — "Meanvv^hile Rome, under the inspiration of 
Mazzini and Garibaldi, had risen and driven out the Pope, 
— who had disappointed ail the hopes which his earlier 



22- 



836 Misf ake;s and misstatements. 

espousal of the popular cause had awakened, — and met- 
amorphosed itself into a Republic." 

Comment — There never was a truer friend of Italy, a 
greater lover of Italian freedom, or a ruler more willing 
to sacrifice himself for his people, than Pius IX. He 
favored at first the adoption by the Italian states of liberal 
constitutions, and the formation of a national league, 
as the German states had done ; but when the impious de- 
signs and secret machinations of the popular leaders were 
revealed to him, justice compelled him to withdraw his 
co-operation and approval. Because he would not abet, or 
connive at robbery, he was condemned by the false lib- 
erals, and by Mr. Myers. 

Myers — "The new Tiberine Republic was overthrown 
by the troops of the New French Republic, and the Pope 
was re-installed. * * * * The dream of Italy's unity and 
freedom (was) dispelled by the hard present fact of re- 
newed tyranny and foreign domination." 

Comment — A historian who will openly applaud rob- 
bery, could doubtless write a more interesting history of 
himself than of Italy. 

Victor Bmmanuel, II., Count Cavonr, and Garibaldi. — 

Comment — rThree great men ; — great in designs, great 
in daring, great in deviltry; — the first a royal usurper, 
the second a scheming and unscrupulous politician, and 
the third a gigantic robber. Now we will hear, with what 
patience we can, Mr. Myers tell the thrilling tale, of how 
these three geniuses, full of the spirit of freedom, patriot- 
ism, and philanthropy, wrought the herculean task of uni- 
fying and liberating Italy. 

The Austro-Sardinian War. — 

Myers — "The outcome was that Austria retained Ven- 



MISTAKES AND MiSS'l'ATjjMI'NTS. 337 

ice. * * * * But Sardinia found compensation for Ven- 
ice in the accession of Tuscany, Modena, Parma, and 
Romagna, the peoples of which states, having- discarded 
their old rulers, besought Victor Emmanuel to permit 
them to unite themselves to his kingdom. Thus as the 
result of the war, the King of Sardinia had added to his 
subjects a population of 9,000,000." 

Comment— het us look these facts squarely in the face 
and understand them. Sardinia, aided by France, made 
an unprovoked war on Austria, wrested from her Lom- 
bardy, and appropriated it to herself. No cause, or even 
offense, can be assigned for the war, except that Sar- 
dinia wanted to get possession of all Italy, and France 
wanted the left branch of the Rhine for her boundary. 
There was no other reason for the war. The several 
independent ducal states fell with Austria, with whom 
they were closely allied, and were invaded and taken 
possession of by the Sardinian King. No more manifest 
act of injustice ever came before, a police-judge than the 
Austro-Sardinian War, and the appropriation of the du- 
cal states; yet learned men, v/ith what consciences and 
by what principles we know not, sit in judgment on the 
crime, and pronounce it lawful and laudable. 

As to the states beseeching "Victor Emmanuel to per- 
mit them to unite themselves to his kingdom," the Ameri- 
can youth is familiar enough with practical politics to 
make a good guess as to how that was done. It was part 
of the plan of the "Big Three." 

Sicily and Naples Added to Victor Bmmanuel's King- 
dom. — 

Myers — "Garibaldi, * * * * having gathered a band 
of a thousand or more volunteers, set sail from Genoa for 



338 MISTAKIJS AND MISSTATEME^N'TS. 

Sicily, * * * ■''' and quickly drove the troops of King" 
Francis out of the island. Then, crossing to the main- 
land, he marched triumphantly to Naples, whose inhabi- 
tants hailed him tumultuosly as their deliverer." 

Comment — The convicts whom he released from the 
prisons, hailed him as their deliverer; and so did the 
red-shirt republicans like himself, the Carbonari, anar- 
chists, liberals, and all of Mr. Myers' patriots and heroes. 

This stab at civil order, this lawless attack upon peace- 
able and legitimate authority, is characterized by our au- 
thor, an exploit of "the romantic and adventurous daring 
of the hero Garibaldi." The James and Younger Brothers' 
raids are not. less worthy of praise. 

Myers — "The hero Garibaldi, having first met and 
hailed his sovereign 'King of Italy,' surrendered his dic- 
tatorship, and retired to the island of Capri, in the Bay 
of Naples. He had earned the lasting gratitude of his 
country." 

Ccinment — Every adventurer has his admirers. 

Myers — "Thus was another great step taken in the 
unification of Italy. Nine millions more of Italians had 
become the subjects of Victor Emmanuel." 

Comment — Try to understand this second great out- 
rage perpetrated in the name of freedom. The kingdom 
of the Two Sicilies was invaded by Garibaldi and his 
filibusters backed by the Sardinian government, conquered, 
and appropriated, as the highwayman appropriates the 
traveller's purse. 

Death of Cavoiir. — 

Myers — "A few months after the liberation of- Naples 
and Sicily, the beloved Count Cavour, over-burdened with 
cares and anxieties, was taken away by sudden death." 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 339 

Comment — He had reason to be anxious at the ap- 
.proach of death; yet he was the least despicable of the 
three criminal confederates. He was a renegade, and 
made open war upon the Church ; but he was benevolent, 
and at times beneficent ; and it is quite certain that he died 
repentant, and reconciled to the Church. 

Venetia Added to the Kingdom. — 

Myers — "Victor Emmanuel formed an alliance with 
the King of Prussia, one of the conditions of which was 
that no peace should be made with Austria until she had 
surrendered Venetia to Italy. The speedy issue of the 
war added the coveted territory to the dominions of Vic- 
tor Emmanuel." 

Comment — The acquisition of Venetia had all the dis- 
graceful characteristics that marked the robbery of Lom- 
bardy and the theft of the Two Sicilies. It was made in 
pursuance of the same policy. 

Rome Becomes the Capital. — 

Myers — "In 1865 the seat of the government was 
transferred to Florence. But the Italians looked for- 
ward to the time when Rome, the ancient mistress of 
the peninsula and of the world, should be their capital." 

Comment — Mr. Myers would have you think that the 
Italians unanimously, or nearly unanimously, favored the 
forcible abolition of the papal government, and the uni- 
fication of Italy. This is untrue. When Victor Em- 
manuel had ordered General Cadorna to advance upon 
Rome and storm the Eternal City, the General sent for- 
ward an envoy with letters from the King, to assure the 
Pope that his person would be protected and respected. 



340 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

When Pope Pius had read the royal missive, he quietly 
remarked : "They speak of guarantees. Who will guar- 
antee these guarantees ? Your King cannot guarantee 
them. Your King is no longer King; he is dependent 
on his parliament, and that parliament depends on the 
secret societies." Then the ambassador begged the Pope 
to judge the King by his good intentions, and to remem- 
ber, above all, that Victor Emmanuel was merely the 
executor of the will of twenty-four millions of Italians. 
"You lie, Signore," cried Pius IX, ; "you calumniate 
Italy. Twenty-three millions of the Italians are devoted 
to me, and ask for only one thing — that the Revolution 
leave them and the Pope in quiet. There may be a million 
whom you have poisoned with false doctrine and with 
shameful greed ; and these are the friends of your King, 
and the abettors of his ambition. Go, sir ! You shall re- 
ceive my reply tomorrow. Now my grief and indignation 
will net allow me to write.", 

Myers — "The Italian government * * "'■' ''^' gave no- 
tice to the Pope that Rome would henceforth be consid- 
ered a portion of the Kingdom of Italy, and forthwith 
an Italian army entered the city, which by a vote of 133,- 
G81 to 1,507 joined itself to the Italian nation." 

Comment — If the vote had been taken before the Ital- 
ian army entered the city, the figures might have been 
reversed. But the invader had already usurped the gov- 
ernment, cannon commanded the streets, the city had been 
bombarded, the red-shirt assassin with drawn dagger 
was in possession, and violence, confiscation, and murder, 
terrorized the inhabitants. Life and property were- at the 
mercy of the mob, and the intruders had no intention of 
relinquishing the prey, howsoever the vote stood. Pru- 



MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 341 

dence, therefore, counselled compliance widi the enemy's 
will. 

Mr. Myers in adducing this argument to justify the 
course of the Revolution, does but weaken his cause. 

Bnd of the Temporal Power of the Pope. — 

Myers — "The Pope protested against this invasion of 
his dominions, this spoliation of the Father of the Church, 
and called upon the King of Prussia to become the de- 
fender of Rome, prophesying the upheaval and overthrow 
of everything in the world should the sacrilege be al- 
lowed." 

Comment — There are men who find it almost impos- 
sible to tell the truth ; who never relate an extraordinary 
event without framing at least one lie. The author's 
statement of the Pope's prophecy is untrue. 

Myers — "So, without a hand being raised in his de- 
fense, the Pope was stripped of every vestige of that tem- 
poral power wherewith Pepin and Charlemagne had in- 
vested the Bishop of Rome more than a thousand years 
before." 

Comment — Which silence and indifference of the 
powers is the saddest commentary on the worldliness of 
our so-called Christian governments. 

The following was written of Pope Pius IX. at the 
time : "His attitude is that of his Master when he trod 
the wine-press alone, and of the people none were with 
him. It is grand, it is sublime, beyond the power of 
mortal man, unless assisted with strength from above. 
No man, it seems to us, can contemplate his attitude, firm 
and inflexible, calm and serene, without being filled, if he 
have any nobility or generosity of soul., or any sense of 



342 MISTAKES AND MISSTATUMI^NTS. 

moral heroism or true manliness in him, with admira- 
tion and awe, or feeling that his very attitude proves that 
he is in the right, and that God is with him." 

Conclusion. — 

Comment — A stranger to the author, after careful 
perusal of this chapter, would naturally conclude that 
he was a captain of a band of freebooters, or the leader 
of a gang of highwaymen. In the "Conclusion" he in- 
forms us that, "Reform and progress have marked Ital- 
ian affairs since the events of 1870." The Pope, he says, 
has stubbornly opposed the progress ; and ignorance and 
bigotry have stood in the way, but the government has 
succeeded. Then follows a list of reform measures, and 
at the head stands the most salutary and the most sub- 
lime ; — two hundred and forty establishments of piety and 
charity have been stolen, the offices that were performed 
in them, suppressed ; the poor, aged, feeble, sick, and help- 
less inmates there cared for, driven out ; and the proceeds 
from the sale of the property pocketed by Mr. Myers' 
liberals, patriots, and heroes. Further comment is un- 
necessary. 



CHAPTER X. 

EnGLx\ND in the NlNETEliNTlI CenTURY. 

The Three Chief Matters. — 

I. Progress Towards Democracy. 
Introductory. — 

Effects of the French Revolution Upon Liberalism in 
Bngland. — 

Revival of Democratic Sentiments. — 

The Reform Bill of 1832.— 

Chartism: The Revolutionary Year of 1848. 

The Reform Bill of 1867.— 

The Reform Bill of 1881.— 

Only the Forms of Monarchy Remain.— 

II. Expansion oe ti-ie Principee oe Reeigious 
Equality. 

Religious Freedom and Religious Equal Uy. — 

Myers — "Progress in this direction (toward religious 
equality), will consist in the growth of a really tolerant 
spirit, which shall lead to the removal from Catholics, 
Protestant dissenters, and Jews, of all civil disabilities, 
and the placing of all sects on an absolute equality be- 
fore the law. This is but a completion of the work of 
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries." 

343 



344 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Comment — Which means, we presume, that relig- 
ious toleration was inaugurated by the Reformation in 
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. On the con- 
trary, "in no country was the reformation introduced but 
by the aid of the civil power, and in no state in which 
it gained the mastery did it fail to be established as the 
religion of the state, and to obtain the suppression by 
force or civil pains and penalties of the old religion, and 
of all forms even of Protestant dissent. The state relig- 
ion was bound hand and foot, and could move only by 
permission of the temporal sovereign, and no other re- 
ligion was tolerated. We all know the penal laws against 
Catholics in England, Ireland, and Scotland, re-enacted 
with additional severity under William and Mary, al- 
most in the eighteenth century. James II., it is equally 
well known, lost the crown of his three kingdoms by an 
edict of toleration, which, as it tolerated Catholics, was 
denounced as an act of outrageous tyranny. The penal 
laws against Catholics were adopted by the Episcopalian 
colony of Virginia, and the Puritan colony of Massachu- 
setts made it an offense punishable with banishment from 
the colony for a citizen to harbor a Catholic priest for 
a single night, or to give him a single meal of victuals. 
It was only in 1788 that the Presbyterian Assembly of 
the United States expunged from their confession of faith 
the article which declares it the duty of the civil magis- 
trate to extirpate heretics and idolaters — an article still 
retained by their brethren in Scotland, and by the United 
Presbyterians in this country, unless very recently can- 
celled." 

Methodism and Its Effects Upon Toleration. — 

Myers — "The Methodists at first had no thought of 



MISTAKliS AND MISSTy^TEMI^NTS. 345 

establishing' a church distinct from the AngHcan. * * * * 
Their enthusiasm, and their often extravagant manners, 
however, offended the staid, cold conservatism of the reg- 
ular (Episcopal) clergy, and they were finally constrained 
by petty persecution to go out from the established or- 
ganization and form a church of their own." 

Comment — The author thinks that "petty persecution" 
justifies the persecuted in establishing a new church. The 
author has lost, and Protestants are fast losing, all true 
conception of Christianity and the Christian Church. Men 
now-a-days establish new churches and devise new creeds, 
and then dissolve them, very much as children build and 
destroy block-houses. George Whitefield and John Wes- 
ley worked harmoniously so long as their aim was to 
found and preserve a mere religious society, but when 
their purpose changed to the establishment of a church, 
they disagreed, and "Whitefield became the leader of the 
Calvinistic Methodists, and Wesley the founder of the 
sect known as Wesleyans." 

Disabilities Removed From Protestant Dissenters. — 
Disabilities Removed From the Catholies. — 
Disabilities Removed From the Jezvs. — 
Disestablishment of the Irish Chnreh. — 

Myers — "The Irish have always and steadily refused 
to accept the religion which their English conquerors have 
somehow felt constrained to try to force upon them." 

Comment— The author says that the English govern- 
ment has "somehow felt constrained" to force their heresy 
upon the Catholic Irish. Seldom have we seen a terrible 
arraignment couched in so courteous terms. This polite 
and execusatory mode of speech may perchance be also 



346 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

a "completion of the work of the sixteenth and seven- 
teenth centuries," and if generally adopted will work 
a radical change in our English tongue. For example, 
how would this sound? — "Our venerable fellow-citizen, 
Mr. P. V. N. M., while returning to his home on Col- 
lege Hill late last night, was politely accosted by the Hon. 
Highway Hans, alias Blizzard Bill, who 'somehow felt 
constrained' to deal him a crashing blow on the point of 
the jaw, and relieve him of the burden of his watch and 
purse." — Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Proposed Disestablishment of the State Church in Eng- 
land and Scotland. — 

HI. ~ Growth oe the British Empire in the East. 

The Clezv to Bngland's foreign Policy in the Nineteenth 
Century. — 

Rise of the Bnglish Power in India. — 

The Afghan War of 1838-1842.— 

Opium War With China. — 

The, Crimean War. — 

Tlic Sepoy Mutiny. — 

Later Bvents : The English in Egypt. — 

Conclusion : The New Age. 

The Age of Material Progress, or the Industrial Age. — 

The Labor Problem. — 

Myers — "The great problem of the first era was the 
proper distribution of authority in religious matters ; that 



MlS'l'AKliS AND MISST^ATI^MENTS. 34? 

of the second era was the distribution of power in the 
State; that of this new epoch is the equitable distribu- 
tion of the products of industry." 

Comment — Mr. Myers imagines that the primitive 
Church was a pure ecclesiastical democracy, and that 
Mary Magdalen, the Good Thief, Nicodemus, and St. 
Peter, stood on a perfect equality as to authority. Verily, 
our author has made, or borrowed, an invention as as- 
tounding, if not so useful, as that of Morse or Fulton. 
But he could have saved himself the labor of perfecting 
his theory, had he only known that there was no dis- 
tribution of religious authority to be made, for Christ 
Himself had made the distribution in the beginning. The 
Church came from the hands of Christ a perfect work. 

Myers — "The democratizing of the Church and State 
has rendered inevitable, it is urged, the democratizing 
of property." 

Couimcnt — What is the blunderbuss trying to say? 
The Church of Christ has never been democratized, has 
never been changed as to its constitution, neither can it 
be, for Christ has promised that His church shall re- 
main unchangeable and indestructible. Some heretics 
thought that they could democratize the Church : they suc- 
ceeded only in disfranchising, despoiling, and expatriating 
themselves. 

Socialism. — 

Myers — "Christianity is essentially socialistic. It con- 
demns individualism." 

Comment — What does this mean, "Christianity con- 
demns individualism ?" 



348 MISTAKES AND MISSTATEMENTS. 

Myers — ''It forbids one to pursue his individual in- 
terests at the expense of another." 

Comment — No, it does not. It does not forbid com- 
petition; but it forbids one to pursue his individual in- 
terests at the "unjust" expense of another: for example, — 
it forbids theft. 

Myers — '"'It enjoins every one to look, not on his own 
things, but also on the things of others." 

Comment — Which statement is both bad grammar and 
bad ethics. Good grammar and good ehtics require the 
insertion of a word which makes the sentence read thus : 
It enjoins everyone to look, not "only" on his own things, 
but also on the things of others. 

Good ethics requires the insertion of the word "only," 
because the Second Great Commandment says : "Thou 
shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We are commanded 
to love ourselves. "Charity begins at home;" that is, 
rightly ordered charity requires that after God, a man 
love himself first, and then those who are near to him, 
in proportion to their nearness, eminence, excellence, etc., 
and, when necessary, labor and sacrifice himself for them 
accordingly. The Christian Socialism that would vio- 
late the divine order of charity is a misnomer, and should 
be called anti-Christian socialism. 

When charity enjoins that we seek our own good be- 
fore the good of others, spiritual, not earthly, good is 
meant. 

Myers — "The numerous building and loan associa- 
tions among us, which are essentially socialistic in prin- 
ciple, are a further illustration of the progress the idea 
is making, an additional evidence of the practicability and 
advantages of the system." 



MISTAKES AND misstate;me;n'i's. 349 

Coninient — Why are the advantages of these associa- 
tions embraced? Is it not because they appeal to the 
self-interest of the investor? We fear the author has 
lost sight of his hobby. 

MyiJrs — " 'Nothing else can solve it (the labor prob- 
lem) than the application of the principles of Christianity 
to industrial organization, as they have already been ap- 
plied to political and ecclesiastical organization.' " 

Comment — There were no "principles of Christianity" 
to apply, prior to Christianity itself; and there was no 
Christianity prior to the Church; therefore, prior to the 
Church the "principles of Christianity" could not be ap- 
plied to the "ecclesiastical organization." Neither could 
the "principles of Christianity" be apphed to the "eccle- 
siastical organization" posterior to the Church, because 
already had they been applied by Christ our Lord in the 
very institution of the Church. 

It seems that the author has now lost, not only his 
hobby, but his head. 

Our task is done, and we shall only add what a retro- 
spect discloses, that the author's central and pervading 
defect is his failure to recognize the authority of God in 
his institutions, the Church and State; and hence his 
assumption that the people, from whom, he thinks, all 
ecclesiastical and political power emanates, and in whom 
it dwells, have the right to revolutionize at will the con- 
stitutions of both. This conclusion is in direct con- 
tradiction of the declaration of St. Paul that, "There is no 
power but from God ; and those that are, are ordained of 
God. Therefore, he that resisteth the power resisteth the 
ordinance of God, and they that resist purchase to them- 
selves damnation." And because all power is from God, 
therefore do ecclesiastical, political, and parental com- 



S50 MISTAKES AND MISSTaTiJMENTS. 

mands bind the conscience, and their transgression is 
not free from moral gnilt. I'^ut on the author's principle. 
Church and State are, at least as to their constitution and 
government, purely human institutions, and therefore can, 
at the will of the subjects, be resisted and overthrown with 
moral impunity; for certainly what has not divine sanc- 
tion, can be opposed without sin. This error, so radical 
and so extensive, permeates and vitiates the whole work. 



FINIS. 



1 Q ''"''. :").0 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

llllliilllilllll 

018 487 784 3 




